Note: The Pan American Union has no record of English translations of the Constitutions
of Costa Rica and Venezuela.

March, 1926.

INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF
THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS
WASHINGTON, D. C.

AMERICAN

CONSTITUTIONS

A COMPILATION OF THE
POLITICAL CONSTITUTIONS OF
THE INDEPENDENT NATIONS
OF THE NEW WORLD WITH
SHORT HISTORICAL NOTES
AND VARIOUS APPENDIXES

By
JOSE IGNACIO RODRIGUEZ
Chief Translator and Librarian

VOLUME I

JULY, 1905

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1906

L'a;- Labna>vyj

While the utmost care is taken to insure accuracy in the publications pf the Inter-
national Bureau of the American Republics, no pecuniary responsibility is assumed
on account of errors which may be found in them.

The present compilation has been distributed, for convenience of the
student, into four parts and an Appendix. The first and second parts
constitute Volume I. The third and fourth parts form Volume II.
-The Appendix and the Index are contained in Volume III.
Part Eirst comprises the Constitutions of those countries, five at
present, which are Unions of States or Provinces organized under a
federal compact. These Constitutions are given in the order of their
respective promulgation. Each one appears in its original language,
with its translation into Spanish or English, as the case may be, the
two texts being printed in parallel columns to facilitate comparison.
The Constitution of Brazil is given in Portuguese and English, and
also in Spanish.
Part Second contains the Constitutions of Guatemala, El Salvador,
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Panama, in Spanish and English.
Part TUird is made up of the Constitutions of the Dominican Repub-
lic, Haiti, and Cuba. The Constitution of Haiti is given in French and
English, and also in Spanish.
Part Fourth embraces the Constitutions of all the South American
Republics, exopting the Argentine Republic, Brazil, and Venezuela,
which are included in Part First. All of these are given in Spanish
and English.
The Appendix will present to the student's consideration the "Arti-
cles of Confederation and Perpetual Union" which preceded the Con-
stitution of the United States of America, the Constitution of the
great Colombia, a Confederation which by its dissolution gave rise to
the Republics of Venezuela, New Granada and Ecuador,-the Consti-
tution of the United Provinces of Central America (Las Provincias
Unidas de Centro America), a Confederation which was created in 1824,
and some other documents of not less important character, illustrating
the development of political life in the nations of the New World.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.

PART FIRST.-FEDERAL UNIONS.
1. The United States of America: Page.
Historical notes..--.......---------...-..--..---....---------------.......-----.....-...-.....--------.... 9
List of important books to be consulted in reference to the Constitution
of the United States of America --....-..-..--------..--.--..--.......--.--.....---------.. 12
Constitution and amendments .----...........-..-...-........--.-----...---..-......---- 13
2. The United Mexican States:
Historical notes ..--..-.....------......................-------------....----..-..-.....-..-.. 37
List of important books to be consulted in reference to the Constitution
of the United Mexican States.......-..------.--....--------........-----...-----...-.... ---38
Constitution and amendments ...................................... 39
3. The Argentine Nation:
Historical notes .-.....-.....-....---------....-----------...-..-...............----------.....-----------. 97
List of important books to be consulted in reference to the Constitution
of the Argentine Nation..........--..------..................---.------..----------..---- 98
Constitution and amendments --------....-..--------...--.--....------......--......-..... 99
4. The United States of Brazil:
Historical notes-.......-----------......-..------------.......---------..---..-..--..-...........-------. 133
List of important books to be consulted in reference to the Constitution
of Brazil ............-..................----------..-------------.--.....--....----..---------...--... 133
Constitution (Portuguese-English)..---.........------..---.....--......--.....-------------------. 134
Constitution (Spanish) ..------...-........-.....--...--..-........--.-------.......... 171
5. The United States of Venezuela:
Historical notes....-.....-....-......---------------..........-------.---.---..------..................---. 191
List of important books to be consulted in reference to the Constitution
of the United States of Venezuela ..---............------..-.....--..-..-..---------- -----191
Constitution........................................--------------------------....----------.......-------------.... 192
PART SECONI).-THE REPUBLICS OF CENTRAL AMERICA.
1. Republic of Guatemala:
Historical notes-----------------------------------------------................................................... 235
List of important books to be consulted in reference to the Constitution
of Guatemala..----...........................---------------.....-.....----.--.----........--.. 235
Constitution as amended.....-..-----....-....----..............----------.......-.--..--... 236
2. Republic of Salvador:
Historical notes..-----------........-..-...-----....-....--...-...-........------.....--......-. 259
Constitution.......................................................------------------------------------------------- 260
3. Republic of Nicaragua:
Historical notes.................................................... 299
List of important books to be consulted in reference to the Constitution
of Nicaragua .......-----....---........----------------.....------....--...--.....-------..-..--.------- 299
Constitution as amended ..-..---------..--.--.--.---...--...---------...--.--..-......-. 300
4. Republic of Costa Rica:
Historical notes...-..---------------------..........-......--.--.----.--..-............---..-.. --325
List of important books to be consulted in reference to the Constitution
of Costa Rica...........---------....----......-.........------..-----.........----.....-----------325
Constitution as amended ........--..---.......-----....---------------............-...----....-..-- 326
5. Republic of Honduras:
Historical notes...-..-........--------------...------......-...--.----...-.........----.----.----... 359
Constitution.......................---------------................------..----------........-.. ----360
6. Republic of Panama:
Historical notes...-..-...-......................----------------------------....--..--..-........---.....-----. 391
Constitution................--------------.......--.......-....-----...-------.........--------..--. 392

I'

PART FIRST

FEDERAL UNIONS

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES
THE ARGENTINE NATION
THE UNITED STATES OF BRAZIL
THE UNITED STATES OF VENEZUELA

7

I

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

HISTORICAL NOTES.

The unanimous declaration made at Philadelphia, on July 4, 1776,
by duly elected representatives of the Colonies of New Hampshire,
Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence plantations, Con-
necticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, in General
Congress assembled, after explaining the causes which impelled the
people of said Colonies to shake off their allegiance to the British
Crown, stated as follows:
"We, therefore, appealing to the Supreme Judge of
the World for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and
by authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish
and declare: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be,
free and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegi-
ance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between
them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dis-
solved; and that as free and independent States, they have full power
to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce,
and to do all other acts and things which independent States may of
right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance
on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each
other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
The "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the
States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Penn-
sylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro-
lina, and Georgia" were agreed upon by duly elected delegates of the
said States on November 15, 1777.a
This compact having been approved and ratified in due form by the
different States, a solemn proclamation thereof was made at Phila-
delphia on the 9th of July, 1778.
Article 1 of the instrument reads as follows:
"ARTICLE 1. The stile of this Confederacy shall be 'The United
States of America.' "
By the provisional articles between the United States of America and
His Britannic Majesty, concluded at Paris, on November 30, 1782, and
the Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States of America
a See Appendix 1.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

and His Britannic Majesty, concluded also at Paris, on September 3,
1783, the recognition of the new political entities was made in the
following language:
"His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz,
New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Del-
aware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Georgia, to be free, sovereign, and independent States; that he treats
with them as such, and for himself, his heirs and successors, relin-
quishes all claims to the government propriety and territorial rights
of the same and every part thereof."
The imperfections of the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual
Union between the States having become every day more and more
apparent and serious, the necessity was felt to call for a convention,
where the said imperfections should be properly cured or corrected.
This convention, which met at Philadelphia and held its first meeting
on May 25, 1787, succeeded in framing, after considerable debate and
through a series of compromises, the Constitution of the United States
of America, such as was signed on September 17 of the same year and
submitted for their assent and ratification to the different States.
This ratification was made by conventions held to that effect, in the
following way:
Delaware, by unanimous vote, on December 7, 1787.
Pennsylvania, by a vote of 46 to 23, on December 12, 1787.
New Jersey, by unanimous vote, on December 18, 1787.
Georgia, by unanimous vote, on January 2, 1788.
Connecticut, by a vote of 128 to 40, on January 9, 1788.
Massachusetts, by a vote of 187 to 168, on February 6, 1788.
Maryland, by a vote of 63 to 12, on April 28, 1788.
South Carolina, by a vote of 149 to 73, on May 23, 1788.
New Hampshire, by a vote of 57 to 46, on June 21, 1788.
Virginia, by a vote of 89 to 79, on June 26, 1788.
New York, by a vote of 30 to 28, on July 26, 1788.
The two remaining States, namely, North Carolina and Rhode Island,
did not ratify the Constitution until November 21, 1789, and May 29,
1789, respectively, the former by a vote of 193 to 75, and the latter
by a vote of 34 to 32.
A resolution passed by Congress on September 13, 1788, declared
the Constitution ratified; and the Government under its new form was
started at once.
GEORGE WASHINGTON was elected by the unanimous vote of his coun-
trymen President of the United States. The House of Representa-
tives organized on the 1st of April, 1789, the Senate secured a quorum
on the 6th following, and President Washington was inaugurated on
the 30th.
The city of New York was then the seat of the Government.
On the 25th of September, 1789, the First Congress of the United
States of America, in use of the power vested in it by Article V of
the Constitution, passed a resolution directing twelve "articles to be
proposed to the legislatures of the several -lit.-, as amendments to
the Constitution of the United Stir,.-, all or any of which articles,
when ratified by three-fourths of the said legislatures, to be valid to
all intents and purposes as part of the said Constitution."

HISTORICAL NOTES.

The first two were rejected, the last ten were adopted, and on the
15th of December, 1791, they were proclaimed to be in force.a
The eleventh amendment to the Constitution of the United States
was proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the Third
Congress, on the 5th of September, 1794, and was declared in a message
from the President to Congress dated the 8th of January, 1798, to
have been ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the States.
The twelfth amendment to the Constitution of theUnited States was
proposed to the legislatures of the several States by the Eighth Con-
gress, on the 12th of December, 1803, in lieu of the original third
paragraph of the first section of the second article, and was declared
in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated the 25th of Septem-
ber, 1804, to have been ratified by the legislatures of three-fo'urths of
the States.
A new amendment (Article XIII), forbidding slavery, was proposed
by Congress on February 1, 1865, and declared to be in force on
December 18 of the same year.
It was ratified by 31 States out of 36. Alabama and Mississippi rati-
fied it conditionally. Delaware and Kentucky rejected it. Texas did
not take any action on it.
The fourteenth amendment (Article XIV) was proposed by Con-
gress on June 16, 1866, and declared to be in force on July 28, 1868.
It was ratified by 33 States out of 37, but the States of New Jersey
and Ohio rescinded their ratification..
Delaware, Kentucky, and Maryland rejected it. "
California took no final action on it.
The fifteenth amendment (Article XV) was proposed by Congress
on February 27, 1869, and declared to be in force on March 30, 1870.
It was ratified by 30 States out of 37; but the State of New York
rescinded its ratification. California, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland,
New Jersey, and Oregon rejected it.
No final action was taken by Tennessee.
The States forming the Union are now 45. Their names, alpha-
betically arranged, are as follows: Alabama, Arkansas, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mas-
sachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
In addition to these States there are now 6 Territories, as fol-
lows: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Indian Territory, New Mexico, and
Oklahoma.
a The two rejected articles were as follows:
I. After the first enumeration required by the First Article of the Constitution,
there shall be 1 Representative for every 30,000 persons until the number shall
amount to 100, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress that
there shall not be less than 100 Representatives, nor less than 1 Representative for
every 40,000 persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to 200, after
which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress that there shall not be less
than 200 Representatives, nor more than 1 Representative for every 50,000 persons.
II. No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Repre-
sentatives shall take effect until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

There is also the District of Columbia, organized under section VIII
of the Constitution, the capital of which (Washington) is the seat of
the Government.
The Union now possesses Porto Rico, Guam, the Philippine Islands,
and the Tutuila Group of the Samoan Islands.

LIST OF IMPORTANT BOOKS TO IE CONSULTED IN REFERENCE TO THE CON-
STITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

Journal, acts, and proceedings of the convention assembled at Philadelphia, Monday,
May 14, and dissolved Monday, September 17, 1787, which formed the Consti-
tution of the United States. Published under the direction of the President of
the United States, conformably to a resolution of Congress of March 27, 1818.
Boston, 1819.
ELLIOT, JONATHAN. Debates in the several State Conventions on the adoption of the
Federal Constitution.
TUCKER, JOHN RANDOLPH. The History of the Federal Convention of 1787 and of
its work.
MARSHALL, JOHN. The writings of John Marshall, late Chief Justice of the United
States, upon the Federal Constitution.
STORY, JOSEPH. Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States.
COOLEY, THOMAS 3M. The general principles of constitutional law in the United
States.
Constitutional limitations.
KENT, JAMES. Commentaries to the Constitution of the United States of America.
- Comentarios di la Constituci6n de los Estados Unidos de America, por
James Kent. Obra traducida del texto original, adicionada y anotada por
J. Carlos Mexfa, abogado de los tribunales mexicanos, 1878.
MEXiA, JosE CARLOS. Manual de la Constituci6n de los Estados Unidos.
VARELA, LUIS V. Derecho constitutional positive. Constituciones vigentes en
Inglaterra, Estados Unidos y sus Estados, Suiza y sus cantones.

CONSTITUTION.

We the people of the United
States, in order to form a more
perfect Union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, pro-
vide for the common defense, pro-
mote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do
ordain and establish this Consti-
tution for the United States of
America.

ARTICLE I.

SECTION 1. All legislative pow-
ers herein granted shall be vested
in a Congress of the United States,
which shall consist of a Senate
and House of Representatives.

SEC. 2. 1. The House of Repre
sentatives shall be composed of
Members chosen every second
year by the people of the several
States, and the electors in each
State shall have the qualifications
requisite for electors of the most
numerous branch of the State
legislature.

2. No person shall bea Represent-
ative who shall not have attained
to the age of twenty-five years,
and been seven years a citizen of
the United States, and who shall
not, when elected, be an inhabi-
tant of that State in which he shall
be chosen.
3. Representatives and direct
taxes shall be apportioned among
the several States which may be in-

eluded within this Union, accord-
ing to their respective numbers,
which shall be determined by
adding to the whole number of
free persons, including those
bound to service for a term of
years, and excluding Indians not
taxed, three-fifths of all other
persons. The actual enumeration
shall be made within three years
after the first meeting of the
Congress of the United States,
and within every subsequent term
of ten years, in 'such manner as
they shall by law direct. The
number of RepresentatiVes shall
not exceed one for every thirty
thousand, but each State shall
have at least one Representative;
and until such enumeration shall
be made, the State of New Ilamp-
shire shall be entitled to chuse
three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode
Island and Providence plantations
one, Connecticut five, New York
six, New Jersey four, Pennsyl-
vania eight, Delaware one, Mary-
land six, Virginia ten, North Car-
olina five, South Carolina five,
and Georgia three.

4. When vacancies happen in the
representation from any State, the
Executive authority thereof shall
issue writs of election to fill such
vacancies.

5. The House of Representatives
shall chuse their Speaker and
other officers, and shall have the
sole power of impeachment.

SEC. 3. 1. The Senate of the
United States shall be composed
of two Senators from each State,
chosen by the legislature thereof,
for six years, and each Senator
shall have one vote.
2. Immediately after they shall
be assembled in consequence of the
first election, they shall be divided
as equally as may be into three

classes. The seats of the Senators
of the first class shall be vacated
at the expiration of the second
year, of the second class at the
expiration of the fourth year, and
of the third class at the expiration
of the sixth year, so that one-third
may be chosen every second year;
and if vacancies happen by resig-
nation, or otherwise, during the
recess of the legislature of any
State, the Executive thereof may
make temporary appointments
until the next meeting of the leg-
islature, which shall then fill such
vacancies.
3. No person shall be a Senator
who shall not have attained to the
age of thirty years and been nine
years a citizen of the United
States, and who shall not, when
elected, be an inhabitant of that
State for which he shall be chosen.
4. The Vice-President of the
United States shall be President of
the Senate, but shall have no vote,
unless they be equally divided.
5. The Senate shall chuse their
other officers, and also a President
pro tempore, in the absence of the
Vice-President, or when he shall
exercise the office of President of
the United States.

6. The Senate shall have the sole
power to try all impeachments.
When sitting for that purpose
they shall be on oath or affirma-
tion. When the President of the
United States is tried the Chief
Justice shall preside; and no per-
son shall be convicted without the
concurrence of two-thirds of the
members present.

7. Judgment in cases of impeach-
ment shall not extend further than
to removal from office, and dis-
qualification to hold and enjoy any
office of honor, trust, or profit,
under the United States; but the
party convicted shall nevertheless

be liable and subject to indict-
ment, trial, judgment, and punish-
ment according to law.

SEc. 4. 1. The times, places, and
manner of holding elections for
Senators and Representatives, shall
be prescribed in each State by the
legislature thereof; but the Con-
gress may at any time by law make
or alter such regulations, except
as to the places of chusing Sena-
tors.

2. The Congress shall assemble
at least once in every year, and such
meetings shall be on the first Mon-
day in December, unless they shall
by law appoint a different day.
SEC. 5. 1. Each House shall be
the judge of the elections, returns,
and qualifications of its own mem-
bers, and a majority of each shall
constitute a quorum to do business;
but a smaller number may adjourn
from day to day, and may be
authorized to compel the attend-
ance of absent members, in such
manner, and under such penalties
as each House may provide.
2. Each House may determine
the rules of its proceedings, punish
its members for disorderly be-
haviour, and, with the concurrence
of two-thirds, expel a member.
3. Each House shall keep a jour-
nal of its proceedings, and from
time to time publish the same, ex-
cepting such parts as may in their
judgment require secrecy; and the
yeas and nays of the members of
either House on any question shall,
at the desire of one-fifth of those
present, be entered on the Journal.

4. Neither House, during the
session of Congress, shall, without
the consent of the other, adjourn
for more than three days, nor to
any other place than that in which
the two Houses shall be sitting.

SEC. 6. 1. The Senators and
Representatives shall receive a
compensation for their services,
to be ascertained by law, and paid
out of the Treasury of the United
States. They shall in all cases,
except treason, felony, and breach
of the peace, be privileged from
arrest during their attendance at
the session of their respective
Houses, and in going to and return-
ing from the same; and for any
speech or debate in either House
they shall not be questioned in any
other place.

2. No Senator or Representative
shall, during the time for which
he was elected, be appointed to any
civil office under the authority of
the United States, which shall
have been created, or the emolu-
ments whereof shall have been
increased during such time; and
no person holding any office under
the United States shall be a mem-
ber of either House during his
continuance in office.
SEC. 7. 1. All bills for raising
revenue shall originate in the
House of Representatives; but the
Senate may propose or concur with
amendments as on other bills.

2. Every bill which shall have
passed the House of Representa-
tives and the Senate shall, before
it become a law, be presented to
the President of the United States;
if he approve he shall sign it, but
if not he shall return it, with his
objections to that House in which
it shall have originated, who shall
enter the objections at large on
their journal and proceed to recon-
sider it. If after such reconsid-
eration two-thirds of that House
shall agree to pass the bill, it shall
be sent, together with the ob-
jections, to the other House, by
which it shall likewise be recon-
sidered, and if approved by two-
360A-VOL 1-06--2

thirds of that House it shall be-
come a law. But in all such cases
the votes of both Houses shall be
determined by yeas and nays, and
the names of the persons voting
for and against the bill shall be
entered on the journal of each
House respectively. If any bill
shall not be returned by the Presi-
dent within ten days (Sundays ex-
cepted) after it shall have been
presented to him, the same shall
be a law in like manner as if he had
signed it, unless the Congress by
their adjournment prevent its re-
turn, in which case it shall not be
a law.
3. Every order, resolution, or
vote to which the concurrence of
the Senate and House of Represent-
atives may be necessary (except on
a question of adjournment) shall
be presented to the President of
the United States, and before the
same shall take effect shall be ap-
proved by him or, being disap-
proved by him, shall be repassed
by two-thirds of the Senate and
House of Representatives, accord-
ing to the rules and limitations
prescribed in the case of a bill.
SEC. 8. 1. The Congress shall
have power to lay and collect taxes,
duties, imposts and excises, to pay
the debts and provide for the com-
mon defence and general welfare
of the United States; but all
duties, imposts and excises shall
be uniform throughout the United
States;

2. To borrow money on the
credit of the United States;
3. To regulate commerce with
foreign nations, and among the sev-
eral States, and with the Indian
tribes;
4. To establish an uniform rule
of naturalization, and uniform laws
on the subject of bankruptcies
throughout the United States;
5. To coin money, regulate the
value thereof, and of foreign coin,

and fix the standard of weights
and measures;
6. To provide for the punishment
of counterfeiting the securities
and current coin of the United
States;
7. To establish post-offices and
post-roads;
8. To promote the progress of
science and useful arts, by secur-
ing for limited times to authors
and inventors the exclusive right
to their respective writings and
discoveries;
9. To constitute tribunals infe-
rior to the Supreme Court;
10. To decline and punish piracies
and felonies committed on the high
seas, and offences against the law
of nations;
11. To declare war, grant letters
of marque and reprisal, and make
rules concerning captures on land
and water;
12. To raise and support armies,
but no appropriation of money to
that use shall be for a longer term
than two years;
13. To provide and maintain a
navy;
14. To make rules for the gov-
ernment and regulation of the land
and naval forces;
15. To provide for calling forth
the militia to execute the laws of
the Union, suppress insurrections,
and repel invasions;

16. To provide for organizing,
arming, and disciplining the mili-
tia, and for governing such part of
them as may be employed in the
service of the United States, re-
serving to the States, respectively,
the appointment of the officers
and the authority of training the
militia according to the discipline
prescribed by Congress:
17. To exercise exclusive legisla-
tion in all cases whatsoever, over
such district (not exceeding ten
miles square) as may, by cession of
particular States, and the accept-

ance of Congress, become the seat
of the Government of the United
States, and to exercise like author-
ity over all places purchased by the
consent of the legislature of the
State in which the same shall be,
for the erection of forts, maga-
zines, arsenals, dock-yards, and
other needful buildings; and

18. To make all laws which shall
be necessary and proper for carry-
ing into execution the foregoing
powers, and all other powers vested
by this Constitution in the Gov-
ernmentof the United States, or in
any Department or officer thereof.

SEC. 9. 1. The migration or im-
portation of such persons as any of
the States now existing shall think
proper to admit shall not be pro-
hibited by the Congress prior to
the year one thousand eight hun-
dred and eight, but a tax or duty
may be imposed on such importa-
tion, not exceeding ten dollars for
each person.
2. The privilege of the writ of
habeas corpus shall not be sus-
pended, unless when in cases of
rebellion or invasion the public
safety may require it.
3. No bill of attainder or ex post
facto law shall be passed.

4. No capitation or other direct
tax shall be laid, unless in propor-
tion to the census or enumeration
herein before directed to be taken.

5. No tax or duty shall be laid on
articles exported from any State.

6. No preference shall be given
by any regulation of commerce or
revenues to the ports of one State
over those of another: nor shall
vessels bound to or from one State

7. No money shall be drawn from
the Treasury, but in consequence
of appropriations made by law;
Sand a regular statement and ac-
count of the receipts and expendi-
teres of all public money shall be
published from time to time.
8. No title of nobility shall be
granted by the United States: and
no person holding any office of
profit or trust under them shall,
without the consent of the Con-
gress, acceptofany present, emolu-
ment, police, or title of any kind
whatever, from aiiiv king, prince,
or foreign State.

SEC. 10. 1. No State shall enter
into any treaty, alliance, or con-
federation; grantlettersof marque
and reprisal; coin money; emit
bills of credit; make anything but
gold and silver coin a tender in
payment of debts; pass any bill
of attainder, ex post facto law, or
law impairing the obligation of
contracts, or grant any title of
nobility.

2. No State shall, without the
consent of the Congress, lay any
imposts or duties on imports or
exports, except what may be ab-
solutely necessary for executing
its inspection laws; and the net
produce of all duties and imposts,
laid by any State on imports or
exports, shall be for the use of the
Treasury of the United States; and
all such laws shall be subject to
the revision and control of the
Congress.

3. No State shall, without the
consent of Congress, lay any duty
of tonnage, keep troops or ships

of war in time of peace, enter into
any agreement or compact with
another State, or with a foreign
power, or engage in war, unless
actually invaded, or in such im-
minent danger as will not admit of
delay.
ARTICLE II.

SECTION 1. 1. The executive
power shall be vested in a President
of the United States of America.
He shall hold his office during the
term of four years, and, together
with the Vice President, chosen
for the same term, be elected as
follows:

2. Each State shall appoint, in
such manner as the legislature
thereof may direct, a number of
electors, equal to the whole number
of Senators and Representatives to
which the State may be entitled in
the Congress: but no Senator or
Representative, or person holding
an office of trust or profit under the
United States, shall be appointed
an elector.
[The electors shall meet in their
respective .Si:i. -, and vote by bal-
lot for two persons, of whom one
at least shall not be an inhabitant
of the same State with themselves.
And they shall make a list of all the
persons voted for and of the num-
ber of votes for each; which list
they shall sign and certify, and
transmit sealed to the seat of the
Government of the United States,
directed to the President of the
Senate. The Presidentof the Sen-
ate shall, in the presence of the
Senate and House of Representa-
tives, open all the certificates, and
the votes shall then be counted.
The person having the greatest
number of votes shall be the Presi-
dent, if such number be a majority
of the whole number of electors
appointed; and if there be more
than one who have such majority
and have an equal number of votes,
then the House of Representatives

shall immediately chuse by ballot de Representantes, por escrutini
one of them for President; and if secret, unaparaPresidente; mas
no person have a majority, then nadie hubiere reunido dicha may(
from the five highest on the list ria, elegira la Camara de entire lt
the said House shall in like man- cinco personas que hubieren sacad
ner chuse the President. But in mis votos. Al hacer la elecci6n d
chusing the President, the votes Presidente, los votos se contari
shall be taken by States, the rep- por Estados, teniendo un voto la r
presentation from each State having presentaci6n de cada Estado; pai
one vote; a quorum for this pur- este objeto, el quorum se former
pose shall consist of a member or de un miembro, 6 de los miembrc
members from two-thirds of the de las dos terceras parties de lc
States and a majority of all the Estados, y sera necesaria la mayo
States shall be necessary to a ria de 4stos para decidir la elect
choice. In every case, after the ci6n. En cualquier caso, una ve
choice of the President, the per- hecha la elecei6n del Presidente
son having the greatest number of seri Vicepresidente la persona qu
votes of the electors shall be the reina el mayor numero de vote
Vice-President. But if there de los electores. Pero si resultar
should remain two or more who haber dos 6 mns que tuvieren igua
have equal votes, the Senate shall nDnmero de votos, el Senado elegir
chuse from them by ballot the de entire ellas al Vicepresident
Vice-President.]a por escrutinio secreto] a
3. The Congress may determine 3. El Congreso determinari e
the time of chusing the electors, tiempo en que han de ser elegido
and the day on which they shall los electores y el dia en que deb
give their votes; which day shall. verificarse ]a elecci6n, debiend
be the same throughout the United ser uno mismo en todos los Esta
States. dos Unidos.
4. No person except a natural- 4. Solo serAn elegibles para e
born citizen or a citizen of the cargo de Presidente los ciudadano
United States at the time of the por nacimiento, 6 los quo fuerel
adoption of this Constitution shall ciudadanos de los Estados Unido
beeligibletotheofficeof President; al tiempo do adoptarse esta Cons
neither shall any person be eligi- tituci6n. Nadie sera eligible qu
ble to that office who shall not no hubiere cumplido treinta
have attained to the age of thirty- cinco aiios de edad, y no hubier
five years and been fourteen years residido catorce aiios en los Esta
a resident within the United dos Unidos.
States.
5. In case of the removal of the 5. En caso de remoci6n, muert
President from office, or of his 6 renuncia del Presidente, 6 d
death, resignation, or inability to incapacidad para desempefiar la
discharge the powers and duties funciones de su encargo, le suce
of the said office, the same shall derii el Vicepresidente. El Con
devolve on the Vice President, greso queda facultado para dis
and the Congress may by law pro- poner por medio de una ley, er
vide for the case of removal, death, caso de remoci6n, muerte, renun
resignation, or inability both of cia 6 incapacidad, tanto del Presi-
the President and Vice President, dente como del Vicepresidente,
declaring what officer shall then qu6 funcionario entrard A desem-
act as President, and such officer peilar la presidencia; y este la

a The clause printed in brackets has been superseded by the twelfth amendment.
See page 32.

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THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

shall act accordingly until the dis-
ability be removed or a President
shall be elected.
6. The President shall, at stated
times, receive for his services a
compensation, which shall neither
be increased nor diminished dur-
ing the period for which he shall
have been elected, and he shall
not receive within that period any
other emolument from the United
States, or any of them.

7. Before he enter on the execu-
tion of his office, he shall take the
following oath or affirmation: "I
do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I
will faithfully execute the office of
President of the United States,
and will, to the best of my ability,
preserve, protect, and defend the
Constitution of the United States."
SEC. 2. 1. The President shall
beCommanderinChief of theArmy
and Navy of the United States,
and of the Militia of the several
States, when called into the actual
service of the United States; he
may require the opinion, in writ-
ing, of the principal officer in each
of the Executive Departments
upon any subject relating to the
duties of their respective offices,
and he shall have power to grant
reprieves and pardons for offences
against the United States, except
in cases of impeachment.

2. He shall have power, by and
with the advice and consent of the
Senate, to make treaties, provided
two-thirds of the Senators present
concur; and he shall nominate
and, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, shall appoint
ambassadors, other public minis-
ters and consuls, judges of the
Supreme Court, and all other
officers of the United States whose
appointments are not herein other-
wise provided for, and which shall
be established by law; but the
Congress may by law vest the ap-

pointment of such inferior officers
as they think proper in the Presi-
dent alone, in the courts of law,
or in the heads of Departments.

3. The President shall have
power to fill up all vacancies that
may happen during the recess of
the Senate by granting commis-
sions which shall expire at the end
of their next session.
SEC. 3. He shall from time to
time give to the Congress infor-
mation of the state of the Union,
and recommend to their consider-
ation such measures as he shall
judge necessary and expedient;
he may, on extraordinary occa-
sions, convene both Houses, or
either of them, and in case of dis-
agreement between them with re-
spect to the time of adjournment,
he may adjourn them to such time
as he shall think proper; he shall
receive ambassadors and other
public ministers; he shall take care
that the laws be faithfully exe-
cuted, and shall commission all the
officers of the United States.

SEC. 4. The President, Vice-
President, and all civil officers of
the United States shall be removed
from office on impeachment for,
and conviction of, treason, bribery,
or other high crimes and misde-
meanors.

ARTICLE III.
SECTION 1. The judicial power
of the United States shall be vested
in one Supreme Court, and in such
inferior courts as the Congress may
from time to time ordain and es-
tablish. The judges both of the
supreme and inferior courts shall
hold their offices during good be-
haviour, and shall at stated times
receive for their services a com-
pensation which shall not be dimin-
ished during their continuance in
office.

SEC. 2. 1. The judicial power
shall extend to all cases in law and
equity arising under this Constitu-
tion, the laws of the United States
and treaties made, or which shall
be made, under their authority; to
all cases affecting ambassadors,
other public ministers and consuls;
to all cases of admiralty and mari-
time jurisdiction; to controversies
to which the United States shall be
a party; to controversies between
two or more States; between a State
and citizens of another State; be-
tween citizens of different States;
between citizens of the same State
claiming lands under grants of dif-
ferent States, and between a State
or the citizens thereof and foreign
States, citizens, or subjects.

2. In all cases affecting ambassa-
dors, other public ministers and
consuls, and those in which a State
shall be party, the Supreme Court
shall have original jurisdiction.
In all the other cases before men-
tioned the Supreme Court shall
have appellate jurisdiction, both
as to law and fact, with such ex-
ceptions and under such regula-
tions as the Congress shall make.

3. The trial of all crimes, except
in cases of impeachment, shall be
by jury; and such trial shall be held
in the State where the said crimes
shall have been committed; but
when not committed within any
State, the trial shall be at such
place or places as the Congress
may by law have directed.

SEC. 3. 1. Treason against the
United States shall consist only in
levying war against them, or in
adhering to their enemies, giving
them aid and comfort. No person
shall be convicted of treason un-
less on the testimony of two wit-

2. The Congress shall have power
to declare the punishment of trea-
son, but no attainder of treason
shall work corruption of blood or
forfeiture except during the life
of the person attainted.

ARTICLE IV.

SECTION 1. Full faith and credit
shall be given in each State to the
public acts, records, and judicial
proceedings of every other State.
And the Congress may by general
laws prescribe the manner in which
such acts, records, and proceedings
shall be proved, and the effect
thereof.
SEC. 2. 1. The citizens of each
State shall be entitled to all privi-
leges and immunities of citizens in
the several States.

2. A person charged in any State
with treason, felony, or other
crime, who shall flee from justice,
and be found in another State,
shall on demand of the executive
authority of the State from which
he fled, be delivered up, to be re-
moved to the State having juris-
tion of the crime.

3. No person held to service or
labour in one State, under the laws
thereof, escaping into another,
shall, in consequence of any law or
regulation therein, be discharged
from such service or labour, but
shall be delivered up on claim of
the party to whom such service or
labour may be due.

SEc. 3. 1. New States may be
admitted by the Congress into this
Union; but no new State shall be
formed or erected within the juris-

diction of any other State; nor any
State be formed by the junction
of two or more States, or parts of
States, without the consent of the
legislatures of the States concerned
as well as of the Congress.
2. The Congress shall have power
to dispose of and make all needful
rules and regulations respecting
the territory or other property
belonging to the United States;
and nothing in this Constitution
shall be be so construed as to prej-
udice any claims of the United
States, or of any particular State.

SEC. 4. The United States shall
guarantee to every State in this
Union a republican form of gov-
ernment, and shall protect each of
them against invasion; and on ap-
plication of the legislature, or of
the Executive (when the legislature
can not be convened) against do-
mestic violence.

ARTICLE V.

The Congress, whenever two-
thirds of both Houses shall deem
it necessary, shall propose amend-
ments to this Constitution, or, on
the application of the legislatures
of two-thirds of the several States,
shall call a convention for propos-
ing amendments, which, in either
case shall be valid to all intents
and purposes, as part of this Consti-
tution, when ratified by the legisla-
tures of three-fourths of the several
States, or by conventions in three-
fourths thereof, as the one or the
other mode of ratification may be
proposed by the Congress; pro-
vided that no amendment which
may be made prior to the year one'
thousand eight hundred and eight
shall in any manner affect the first
and fourth clauses in the ninth sec-
tion of the first article; and that
no State without its consent shall

1. All debts contracted and en-
gagements entered into before the
adoption of this Constitution shall
be as valid against the United
States under this Constitution as
under the Confederation.
2. This Constitution, and the
laws of the United States which
shall be made in pursuance thereof,
and all treaties made or which shall
be made under the authority of the
United States, shall be the supreme
law of the land; and the judges in
every State shall be bound thereby,
any thing in the constitution or
laws of any State to the contrary
notwithstanding.
3. The Senators and Represent-
atives before mentioned, and the
members of the several State leg-
islatures, and all executive and
judicial officers, both of the United
States and of the several States,
shall be bound by oath or affirma-
tion to support this Constitution;
but no religious test shall ever be
required as a qualification to any
office or public trust under the
United States.

ARTICLE VII.
The ratification of the conven-
tions of nine States shall be suffi-
cient for the establishment of this
Constitution between the States so
ratifying the same.
Done in Convention by the
unanimous consent of the States
present the seventeenth day of
September, in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred
and eighty-seven, and of the Inde-
pendance of the United States of
America the twelfth.

Congress shall make no law re-
specting an establishment of re-
ligion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peace-
ably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for a redress of
grievances.

[ARTICLE II.]

A well-regulated militia, being
necessary to the security of a free
State, the right of the people to
keep and bear arms, shall not be
infringed.

[ARTICLE III.]

No soldier shall in time of
peace be quartered in any house,
without the consent of the owner,
nor in time of war, but in a man-
ner to be prescribed by law.

[ARTICLE IV.]

The right of the people to be
secure in their persons, houses,
papers, and effects against un-
reasonable searches and seizures
shall not be violated, and no war-
rants shall issue but upon probable
cause, supported by oath or affirm-
ation, and particularly describing
the place to be searched and the
persons or things to be seized.

[ARTICLE V.]

No person shall be held to an-
swer for a capital or otherwise
infamous crime unless on a pre-
sentment or indictment of a grand
jury, except in cases arising in the

land or naval forces, or in the mi-
litia, when in actual service in
time of war or public danger; nor
shall any person be subject for the
same offence to be twice put in
jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall
be compelled in any criminal case
to be a witness against himself,
nor be deprived of life, liberty, or
property without due process of
law; nor shall private property be
taken for public use without just
compensation.

[ARTICLE VI.]

In all criminal prosecutions, the
accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial, by an im-
partial jury of the State and district
wherein the crime shall have been
committed, which district shall
have been previously ascertained
by law, and to be informed of the
nature and cause of the accusation;
to be confronted with the wit-
nesses against him; to have com-
pulsory process for obtaining wit-
nesses in his favor, and to have the
assistance of counsel for his
defense.

[ARTICLE VII.]

In suits at common law, where
the value in controversy shall ex-
ceed twenty dollars, the right of
trial by jury shall be preserved,
and no fact tried by a jury shall
be otherwise reexamined in any
court of the United States. than
according to the rules of the com-
mon law.

[ARTICLE IX.]
The enumeration in the Consti-
tution of certain rights shall not
be construed to deny or disparage
others retained by the people.

[ARTICLE X.]
The powers not delegated to the
United States by the Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the States,
are reserved to the States respec-
tively, or to the people.

[ARTICLE XI.]
The judicial power of the United
States shall not be construed to
extend to any suit in law or equity,
commenced or prosecuted against
one of the United States by citi-
zens of another State, or by citi-
zens or subjects of any foreign
State.

[ARTICLE XII.]
The electors shall meet in their
respective States, and vote by bal-
lot for President and Vice-Presi-
dent, one of whom at least shall
not be an inhabitant of the same
State with themselves; they shall
name in their ballots the person
voted for as President, and in dis-
tinct ballots the person voted for
as Vice-President, and they shall
make distinct lists of all persons
voted for as President, and of all
persons voted for as Vice-Presi-
dent, and of the number of votes
for each, which lists they shall
sign and certify and transmit sealed
to the seat of the Government
of the United States, directed to
the President of the Senate. The
President of the Senate shall, in
the presence of the Senate and
House of Representatives, open
all the certificates and the votes
shall then be counted. The per-
son having the greatest number of

votes for President shall be the
President, if such number be a
majority of the whole number of
electors appointed; and if no per-
son have such majority, then from
the persons having the highest
numbers, not exceeding three on
the list of those voted for as Presi-
dent, the House of Representa-
tives shall choose immediately, by
ballot, the President. But in
choosing the President the votes
shall be taken by States, the rep-
resentation from each State hav-
ing one vote; a quorum for this
purpose shall consist of a member
or members from two-thirds of
the States, and a majority of all
the States shall be necessary to
a choice. And if the House of
Representatives shall not choose
a President whenever the right of
choice shall devolve upon them,
before the fourth day of March
next following, then the Vice-
President shall act as President,
as in the case of the death or other
constitutional disability of the
President.
The person having the greatest
number of votes as Vice-President
shall be the Vice-President, if such
number be a majority of the whole
number of electors appointed, and
if no person have a majority, then
from the two highest numbers on
the list the Senate shall choose the
Vice-President; a quorum for the
purpose shall consist of two-thirds
of the whole number of Senators,
and a majority of the whole num-
ber shall be necessary to a choice.

But no person constitutionally
ineligible to the office of President
shall be eligible to that of Vice-
President of the United States.

party shall have deen duly con-
victed, shall exist within the
United States, or any place sub-
ject to their jurisdiction.
SEC. 2. Congress shall have
power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.

ARTICLE XIV.
SECTION 1. All persons born or
naturalized in the United States,
and subject to the jurisdiction
thereof, are citizens of the United
States and of the State wherein
they reside. No State shall make
or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immuni-
ties of citizens of the United States;
nor shall any State deprive any
person of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor
deny to any person within its juris-
diction the equal protection of the
laws.

SEC. 2. Representatives shall be
apportioned among the several
States according to their respec-
tive numbers, counting the whole
number of persons in each State,
excluding Indians not taxed. But
when the right to vote at any elec-
tion for the choice of electors for
President and Vice-President of
the United States, Representatives
in Congress, the executive and
judicial officers of a State, or the
members of the legislature thereof,
is denied to any of the male in-
habitants of such State, being
twenty-one years of age, and citi-
zens of the United States, or in
any way abridged, except for par-
ticipation in rebellion, or other
crime, the basis of representation
therein shall be reduced in the
proportion which the number of
such male citizens shall bear to
the whole number of male citizens
twenty-one years of age in such
State.

gress, or elector of President and
Vice-President, or hold any office,
civil or military, under the United
States, or under any State, who,
having. previoulsy taken an oath,
as a member of Congress, or as an
officer of the United t.i. -, or as a
member of any State legislature,
or as an executive or judicial offi-
cer of any State, to support the
Constitution of the United States,
shall have engaged in insurrection
or rebellion against the same, or
given aid or comfort to the ene-
mies thereof. But Congress may,
by a vote of two-thirds of each
House, remove such disability.

SEC. 4. The validity of the pub-
lic debt of the United States,
authorized by law, including debts
incurred for payment of pensions
and bounties for services in sup-
pressing insurrection or rebellion,
shall not be questioned. But
neither the United States nor any
State shall assume or pay any debt
or obligation incurred in aid of
insurrection or rebellion against
the United States, or any claim
for the loss or emancipation of
any slave; but all such debts,
obligations, and claims shall be
held illegal and void.

SEC. 5. The Congress shall have
power to enforce, by appropriate
legislation, the provisions of this
article.
ARTICLE XV.
SECTION 1. The right of citizens
of the United States to vote shall
not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any State on
account of race, color, or previous
condition of servitude.

SEC. 2. The Congress shall have
power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.

HISTORICAL NOTES.
Mexico, also called the Republic of Mexico and the Mexican Repub-
lic, is a union of States, Districts, and Territories, organized on the
same plan as that of the United States of America.
Its official name in Spanish is "Los Estados Unidos Mexicanos,"
usually translated into English as "The United Mexican States."
The States are twenty-seven, the names of which, alphabetically
arranged, are: Aguascalientes, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coa-
huila, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco,
Mexico, MichoacAn, Morelos, Nuevo Le6n, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quer&-
taro, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala,
Veracruz, Yucatain, Zacatecas.
The Territories are two, respectively named: Tepic and Lower
California (?., aliUfornia in Spanish).
The Federal District comprises, as the District of Columbia does in
the United States of America, that portion of the Mexican territory
where the seat of the national government is established. The city of
Mexico, the capital of this District, is also the capital of the Union.

The uprising on the night of the 16th of September, 1810, at the
town of Dolores, under the leadership of the town's curate, Don
MIGUEL HIIDALGO, against the authority of Spain in Mexico, at the
cry of "Long live Religion! Long live our Most Holy Mother of
Guadalupe! Long live America! Death to bad governments!" was
the first serious movement in the list of events which culminated in
the independence of Mexico.
The first Mexican Congress (G-.... .. de Ana/quac) met at Chil-
pancingo on the 14th of September, 1813, and on the 6th of November
following solemnly proclaimed the independence of Mexico.
On October 22,1814, the first Mexican Constitution was promulgated.
It created a Republic, and vested the executive power in three persons
to be elected by Congress. It was called "the Apatzingdin Constitu-
tion," from the name of the place where it was signed and proclaimed.
The triumvirs elected were Don Jos6 Maria Liceaga, Don Jos4 Maria
Morelos, and Don Jose Maria Cos.
On February 24, 1821, the Iguala platform (plan de ]quala) was
proclaimed; It provided that Mexico (New Spain) should be an inde-
pendent monarchy under an Emperor, the crown to be offered first
to King Ferdinand VII of Spain, and then, if he failed to accept it, to
some other princes. Seventeen months afterwards Don AGUSTIN DE
ITURBIDE, who was the commander in chief of the army created by
this "plan," became Emperor of Mexico, and was crowned on Sunday,
the 21st of July, 1822.

THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES.

On the 2d of December following a revolutionary movement at Vera-
cruz, headed by Gen. Don ANTONIO L6PEZ DE SANTA ANA, proclaimed
a republican form of government, and compelled ITURBIDE to abdicate
and leave the country.
The ex-Emperor, having returned to Mexico, was arrested, con-
demned to death, and executed July 19, 1824, just five days after
landing.
The second Constitution of Mexico (Constitucidn de los stados Uni-
dos ,lxicanos), promulgated on October 4, 1824, established a Federal
Republic similar to the United States of America.
The first President under this Constitution was Gen. Don GUADALUPE
VICTORIA, who took the oath of office on October 10, 1824.
Great Britain and the United States of America recognized Mexico
as an independent Republic in 1825. Spain delayed its recognition
until the 28th of December, 1836.
On the 1st of January, 1837, a new Constitution was promulgated.
It rejected the federal principle, and reduced the States to the condition
of provinces or departmentsos" subject to the central government;
but the republican form of government was preserved.
On May 15, 1856, President COMOxFORT, acting under the provisions
of the Ayutla platform (plan deAyutla), as amended at Acapulco, pro-
mulgated the Constitution which was called "Provisional Organic
Statute of the Mexican Republic" (Estatuto Orgdnico Provisional de
la I'eyibllica i[lexican a).
This statute was superseded on February 5, 1857, by the present
"Political Constitution of the Mexican Republic" (Constitucidn Poli-
tica de la Reypablica 3fexicana).

In the name of God and by the
authority of the Mexican people.
The representatives of the dif-
ferent States, of the District and of
the Territories which compose the
Republic of Mexico, called upon by
the provisions of the plan" pro-
claimed in Ayutla the first of
March, eighteen hundred and fifty-
four, amended in Acapulco the
eleventh day of the same month
and year, and by the summons
issued the seventeenth of October,
eighteen hundred and fifty-five, to
convene for the purpose of framing
a constitution for the nation and
making it a popular representative,
democratic republic, exercising the
powers with which they are vested,
do hereby comply with the require-
ments of their high office, by decree-
ing the following political Consti-
tution of the Mexican Republic,
on the indestructible basis of its
legitimate independence, pro-
claimed the sixteenth of Septem-
ber, eighteen hundred and ten, and
consummated the twenty-seventh
of September, eighteen hundred
and twenty-one.
TITLE I.
SECTION I.

The rights of man.

ARTICLE 1. The Mexican people
recognize that the rights of man
are the basis and the object of
social institutions. Consequently

they declare that all the laws and
all the authorities of the country
must respect and maintain the
guaranties which the present Con-
stitution establishes.
ART. 2. In the Republic all are
born free. S.1:hI\' who set foot
upon the national territory re-
cover, by that act alone, their
liberty, and have a right to the
protection of the laws.
ART. 3. Instruction is free. The
law shall determine what profes-
sions require a diploma for their
exercise, and what requisites are
necessary to obtain said diplomas.
ART. 4. Every man is free to
engage in any honorable and use-
ful profession, industrial pursuit,
or occupation suitable to him, and
to avail himself of its products.
The exercise of this liberty shall
not be hindered except by judicial
sentence when such exercise at-
tacks the rights of a third party,
or by executive order issued in the
manner specified by law, when it
offends the rights of society.
(ART.5. Nooneshallbecompelled
to render personal services without
just compensation, and without his
full consent. The law shall not
permit any contract, compact, or
agreement to be entered into hav-
ing for its object the loss, or irre-
vocable sacrifice of the liberty of
man, whether it be in relation to
labor, education, or a religious
vow. Nor shall it allow any agree-
ment by which a man stipulates
his proscription or banishment.,)
ART. 6. The expression of ideas
shall not be the object of any judi-
cial or executive investigation, ex-
cept in case it attacks morality, the
rights of a third party, provokes
crime or misdemeanor, or disturbs
public order.

(ART. 7. The liberty to write and
to publish writings on any subject
is inviolable. No law or authority

shall establish previous censorship,
or require authors or printers to
give bond, or restrict the liberty of
the press, which has no other limits
than respect of private life, moral-
ity, and the public peace. Trials
for offenses committed through the
press shall be held before a jury
which shall pass upon the facts
and another jury which shall ap-
ply the law and fix the penalty to
be imposed.a)
ART. 8. The right of petition,
exercised in writing in a peaceful
and respectful manner, is inviola-
ble; but in political matters only
citizens of the Republic may ex-
ercise it. To every petition an
answer shall be given in writing, in
the form of a decree, by the offi-
cial to whom it may have been
addressed, and the said official is
bound to make the petitioner ac-
quainted with the result.
ART. 9. No one shall be deprived
of the right to peaceably associate
or unite with others for any lawful
purpose; but only citizens of the
Republic are permitted to take
part in the political affairs of the
country. No armed reunion has
the right to deliberate.

ART. 10. Every man has the right
to possess and carry arms for his
security and legitimate defense.
The law shall designate what arms
are prohibited, and the punish-
ment to be incurred by those who
carry them.
ART. 11. Every man has the right
to enter and leave the Republic,
to travel through its territory,
and change his residence, with-
out the necessity of a letter of
security, passport, safe conduct,
or other similar requisite. The
exercise of this right shall not
affect the legitimate faculties of
the judicial or executive author-
ities in cases of criminal or civil
responsibility.

ART. 12. No titles of nobility,
or prerogatives, or hereditary
honors, are, or shall be recognized
in the Republic. Only the people,
legitimately represented, may de-
cree recompeilses in honor of
those who have rendered or may
render eminent services to the
country or to humanity.
ART. 13. In the Mexican Repub-
lic no one shall be tried according to
special laws, or by special tribunals.
No person or corporation shall have
privileges or enjoy emoluments'
which are not in compensation for
a public service and established
bylaw. Military jurisdiction shall
be recognized only for the trial of
criminal cases having strict con-
nection with military discipline.
The law shall clearly set forth the
cases included in this exception.

ART. 14. No retroactive law
shall be enacted. No person shall
be tried or sentenced except under
laws previously enacted, exactly
applicable to the case, and by a
tribunal previously established by
law.
ART. 15. No treaty shall be made
for the extradition of political of-
fenders, or of offenders of the
common class, who have been
slaves in the country where the
offense was committed; nor shall
any agreement or treaty be entered
into which abridges or modifies
the guaranties and rights which
this Constitution grants to the man
and to the citizen.
ART. 16. No one shall be mo-
lested in his person, family, domi-
cile, papers or possessions, except
by virtue of an order in writing of
the competent authority, setting
forth the legal grounds upon which
the measure is taken. In cases of
in /... delicto any person may
apprehend the offender and his
accomplices, placing them without
delay at the disposal of the nearest
authorities.

ART. 17. No one shall be arrested
for debts of a purely civil char-
acter. No one shall exercise vio-
lence in order to enforce his rights.
The tribunals shall always be
open for the administration of
justice, which shall be gratuitous,
judicial costs being consequently
abolished.
ART. 18. Imprisonment shall
take place only for crimes deserv-
ing corporal punishment. In any
stage of the case in which it shall
appear that such a punishment can
not be imposed upon the accused,
he shall be set at liberty on bail.
In no case shall the imprisonment
or detention be prolonged for fail-
ure to pay fees, or any other pe-
cuniary charge.
ART. 19. No detention shall ex-
ceed the term of three days, unless
justified by a warrant, issued in
accordance to law, and giving the
grounds for the imprisonment.
The mere lapse of said time shall
render the authority that orders or
consents to it and the agents, min-
isters, wardens, or jailers who exe-
cute it, responsible therefore. Any
maltreatment in the apprehension
or in the confinement of the prison-
ers, any molestation which may be
inflicted without legal ground, or
any tax or contribution in the
prisons, is an abuse which the laws
must correct and the authorities
severely punish.
ART. 20. In every criminal trial
the accused shall have the follow-
ing guaranties:
I. That the grounds of the pro-
ceedings and the name of the ac-
cuser, if there shall be one, be
made known to him.
II. That his preliminary exam-
ination bo made within forty-eight
hours, to be counted from the time
he may be placed at the disposal
of the judge.
III. That he be confronted with
the witnesses who testify against
him.

IV. That he be furnished with
all the information on record,
which he may need for his de-
fense.
V. That lie be heard in his de-
fense, either personally or by
counsel, or by both, as lie may de-
sire. In case he should have no
one to defend him, a list of official
counselors shall be shown to him,
in order that he may choose one or
more to act as his counsel.
APT. 21. The imposition of pen-
alties properly so called belongs ek-
clusively to the judicial authority.
The political or executive authori-
ties shall only have power to im-
pose fines and imprisonment, as
disciplinary measures, the former
of no more than five hundred dol-
lars, and the latter for no more
than one month, in the cases and in
the manner which the law shall ex-
pressly determine.
ART. 22. Punishments by muti-
lation and infamy, by branding,
fl ._.-i b-', beating with sticks, tor-
ture of whatever kind, excessive
lines, confiscation of property, or
any other penalties, unusual, or
working corruption of blood, shall
be forever prohibited.
ART. 23. In order to abolish
the penalty of death, the execu-
tive power shall establish, as soon
as possible, a penitentiary system.
In the meantime the penalty of
death shall be abolished for polit-
ical offenses, and shall not be im-
posed except in cases of treason
during a foreign war, highway
robbery, arson, parricide, murder
in the first degree, grave offenses
of military character, and piracy
as defined by law.

ART. 24. No criminal case shall
have more than three instances.
No person, whether acquitted or
condemned, shall be tried again
for the same offense. Verdicts of
not proven are abolished.

AnT. 25. Correspondence sent
through the mails is inviolable.
The violation of this guaranty is
an offense which the law shall pun-
ish severely.

ART. 26. In time of peace no
soldier may demand quarters, sup-
plies, or other real or personal
service, without the consent of the
proprietor. In time of war he
may do so, but only in the manner
prescribed by tio law.
ART. 27. Private property shall
not be condemned without the
consent of the owner, except for
public use, and upon previous
indemnification. The law shall
determine the authority which may
make the condemnation and the
conditions on which it may be
carried out.
(No corporation, civil or eccle-
siastical, whatever its character,
denomination, or object may be,
shall have legal capacity to acquire
the ownership or administration
of real estate, excepting only the
buildings destined immediately
and directly to the service and
object of the institution.")
ART. 28. There shall be no mo-
nopolies of any kind, whether gov-
ernmental or private, nor prohibi-
tions whatever even if under
cover of protection to industry.
The Government's exclusive right
to coin money, and manage the
postal service, and the privileges
which, for a limited time, the law
may concede to inventors or im-
provers of inventions, are excep-
tions to this rule.
ART. 29. In cases of invasion,
grave disturbance of the public
peace, or any other emergency
which may place society in grave
danger, the President of the Re-
public, and no one else, shall have
the power to suspend, with the
advice of the council of ministers
and with the approval of the Con-

gress of the Union, and, in the
recess thereof, of the Permanent
Committee, the guaranties estab-
lished by this Constitution, ex-
cepting those relating to the life
of man; but such suspension,
which in no case shall be confined
in its effects to a particular in-
dividual, shall be made by means
of a general order, or decree, and
only for a limited time.
If the suspension takes place
during the session of Congress,.
this body shall concede the author-
izations which it may deem neces-
sary in order that the Executive
may properly meet the situation.
If the suspension takes place
during the recess, the Permanent
Committee shall, without delay,
call Congress to assemble in order
that it may make the concession.

SECTION II.

_llerican,.

ART. 30. Mexicans are:
I. All those born, within or
without the Republic, o'f Mexican
parents.
II. Foreigners naturalized in
conformity with the laws of the
Federation.
III. Foreigners who acquire real
estate in the Republic, or have
Mexican children, if they do not
declare their intention to retain
their nationality of origin.
AuT. 31. It is the duty of every
Mexican:
I. To defend the independence,
the territory, the honor, the rights
and interests of his country.
II. To contribute in the propor-
tional and equitable manner pro-
vided by law, to meet the public
expenses of the Federation, the
State and the municipality in which
he resides.
ART. 32. Mexicans shall be pro-
ferred under equal circumstances
to foreigners, for all public employ-
ments, charges, or commissions,

when the citizenship is liot indis-
pensable. Laws shall be enacted
to improve the condition of indus-
trious Mexicans, by rewarding
those who distinguish themselves
in any science or art, promoting
labor, and founding colleges and
manual training schools.

SECTION III.

ART. 33. Foreigners are those
who do not possess the qualifica-
tions determined in article 30.
They have a right to the guaran-
ties established by Section I, Title
I, of the present Constitution, ex-
cept that in all cases the Govern-
ment has the right to expel perni-
cious foreigners. They are under
obligation to contribute to the pub-
lic expenses in the manner which
the laws may provide, and to obey
and respect the institutions, laws,
and authorities of the country,
subjecting themselves to the de-
cisions of the tribunals, without
power to seek other protection
than that which the laws concede
to Mexican citizens.

SECTION IV.

Jfexican citizens.

ART. 34. Citizens of the Repub-
lic are all those who, in addition to
the quality of Mexicans, have the
following qualifications:
1. To have completed the age of
eighteen years if they are married,
or of twenty-one if not married.
II. To have an honest means of
livelihood.
ART. 35. The prerogatives of
the citizen are:
I. To vote at popular elections.

and be qualified for serving offices
of other kinds, if having the other
qualities required by law.
III. To associate with others to
discuss the political affairs of the
country.
IV. To enlist in the army or in
the national guard for the defense
of the Republic and its institu-
tions.
V. To exercise in all kinds of
business the right of petition.
ART. 36. It shall be the duty of-
every citizen of the Republic:
I. To register in the list of the
inhabitants of the municipality in
which he lives, stating the prop-
erty which he owns, if any, or
the industry, profession, or labor
by which he subsists.
II. To enlist in the national
guard.
II. To vote at popular elections
in the district to which he belongs.

IV. To fill the federal offices to
which he may be elected, and which
in no case shall be gratuitous.
ART. 37. The character of citi-
zen is lost:
I. By naturalization in a foreign
country.
II. By officially serving the gov-
ernment of another country or
accepting its decorations, titles, or
employment without previous
permission from the Federal Con-
gress; excepting literary, scien-
tific, and humanitarian titles, which
may be accepted freely.
ART. 38. The law shall determine
the cases and the form in which
the rights of citizenship may be
lost or suspended, and the manner
in which they may be regained.
TITLE II.
SECTION I.

De la soberania national y de la National sovereignty and form of
forma de gobierno. government.
ART. 39. La soberania national ART. 39. The national sover-
reside esencial y originariamente eignty is vested essentially and

originally in the people. All public
power emanates from the people,
and is instituted for their benefit.
The people have at all times the
inalienable right to alter or modify
the form of their government.
ART. 40. It is the will of the Mexi-
can people to constitute themselves
into a democratic, Federal, repre-
sentative Republic, consisting of
States, free and sovereign in all
that concerns their internal gov-
ernment, but united in a federation
according to the principles of this
fundamental law.
ART. 41. The people exercise
their sovereignty through the Fed-
eralpowers inthemattersbelonging
to the Union, and through those of
the States in the matters relating
to the internal regime of the latter.
This power shall be exercised in
the manner respectively estab-
lished by the Constitutions, both
Federal and State. The latter
shall in no case contravene the stip-
ulations of the Federal Compact.
SECTION II.

Durango, Guerrero, M1xico, Puc-
bla, Queretaro, Sinaloa, Sonora,
Tamaulipas, and the Territory of
Lower California shall preserve
the limits which they now have.
ART. 45. The States of Colima
and Tlaxcala shall preserve in their
new character of Iir.*h, the limits
which they had as Territories of
the Federation.
ART. 46. The State of the Val-
ley of Mexico shall consist of the
territory constituting at present
the Federal District, but it shall
not be a State until after the su-
preme Federal Powers move to
some other place.
ART. 47. The State of Nuevo
Le6n and Coahuila shall comprise
the territory formerly belonging
to the two separate States of which
it now consists, except a part of the
Bonanza Hacienda, which shall be
added to Zacatecas, exactly as it
was before its annexation to Coa-
huila.

ART. 48. The States of Guana-
juato, Jalisco, iMichoacan, Oaxaca,
San Luis Potosi, Tabasco, Vera
Cruz, Yucatan, and Zadatecas shall
recover the extent and limits which
they had on the thirty-first of De-
cember,eighteen hundred and fifty-
two, with the alterations estab-
lished in the following article.
ART. 49. The town of Conte-
pec, now belonging to Guanajuato,
shall be annexed to Michoacan.
The municipality of Ahualulco,
belonging to Zacatecas, shall be
annexed to San Luis Potosi. The
municipalities of Ojo Caliente and
San Francisco de los Adames, be-
longing to San Luis, as well as
the towns of Nueva Tlaxcala and
San Andrds del Teul, belonging
to Jalisco, shall be annexed to
Zacatecas. The department of
T6xpam shall continue to form a
part of Vera Cruz. The canton of
Huimanguillo, belonging to Vera
Cruz, shall be annexed to Tabasco.

ART. 50. The supreme power of
the Federation is divided for its
exercise into legislative, executive,
and judicial. Two or more of
these powers shall never be united
in one person or corporation, nor
shall the legislative power be
vested in one individual.

SECTION I.

Legislative Power.

(ART. 51. The supreme legisla-
tive power of the nation is vested
in an assembly to be called The
Congress of the Union.""a)
PARAGRAPH I.
Election and installation of Congress.

(ART. 52. The Congress of the
Union shall consist of representa-
tives, all of whom are to be elected
every two years by the Mexican
citizens.")
ART. 53. One representative
shall be elected for each forty
thousand inhabitants, or for a frac-
tion thereof which exceeds twenty
thousand. The territory in which
the population is less than that
determined in this article shall,
nevertheless, elect one represent-
ative.
ART. 54. For each representa-
tive there shall be elected one
substitute.
ART. 55. The election of repre-
sentatives shall be indirect in the
first degree, and by secret ballot,
in the manner which the electoral
law shall provide.
ART. 50. Representatives shall
have the following qualifications:
To be Mexican citizens in the en-
joyment of their rights; to be
twenty-five years of age on the
day of the opening of the session;

to b)e residents of the State or
Territory in which the election
is held, and not to belong to the
ecclesiastical state. Residence is
not lost by absence in the dis-
charge of a public office of popu-
lar election.)
(ART. 57. The position of repre-
sentative is incompatible with any
salaried commission or office of
the Union.a)
(ART. 58. Representatives shall
be disqualified, from the day of
their election to the day on which
their trust is concluded, from ac-
cepting any salaried commission or
office from the Federal Executive,
except with previous permission of
the Congress. The same requisite is
necessary for the substitutes, when
in the exercise of their functions.")

(ART. 59. Representatives shall
be inviolable for their opinions
manifested in the performance of
their duties, and shall never be
liable to be called to account for
them.a)
(ART. 60. The Congress shall be
the judge of the election of its mem-
bers, and shall pass upon any ques-
tion which may arise concerning
the same.")
(ART. 61. The Congress shall not
open its sessions nor perform its
functions without the presence of a
quorum consisting of more than
one-half of the whole number of its
members; but those present shall
meet on the day fixed by the law
and compel the attendance of the
absentees under the penalties es-
tablished for that purpose.a)
(ART. 62. The Congress shall
have each year two periods of or-
dinary sessions: the first shall
begin on the sixteenth of Septem-
ber and end on the fifteenth of
December, and the second, which
can not be extended, shall begin on
the first of April and end on the
last day of May.a)

ART. 63. At the opening of the
sessions of the Congress the Presi-
dent of the Union shall be present
and make a speech in which he
shall give information of the state
of the country. The president of
the Congress shall reply in general
terms.
(ART. 64. All acts of the Con-
gress shall have the character
either of laws or of economical
resolutions. When transmitted to
the Executive, the laws shall be
signed by the president and two
secretaries, and the economical res-
olutions by only two secretaries.")
PARAGRAPH II.
Origin and formattion of the laws.

ART. 65. The right to originate
legislation belongs:
I. To the President of the
Union.
II. To the members of Con-
gress.
III. To the legislatures of the
States."
ART. 66. Bills introduced by the
President of the Republic, or by
the legislatures or deputations of
the States, shall inunediately be
referred to the proper committee.
Those introduced by members of
Congress shall be subject to the
procedure established by the
rules.,
ART. 67. Bills rejected by the
Congress shall not be reintroduced
during the sessions of that year.1

ART. 68. The second period of
sessions shall be devoted with pref-
erence over all other matters, to the
making of the necessary appropri-
ations for the support of the Gov-
ernment in the following fiscal
year, the levying of the taxes nec-
essary to meet the expenses, and
the examination of the accounts
of the past year submitted by the
Executive.

(ART. 69. The Executive shall
send to the Congress on the last
day but one of the first period of
its sessions an estimate of expenses
for the following year and the
accounts of the preceding year.
Both documents shall be referred
to a committee of five representa-
tives appointed on the same day,
which shall examine them, and re-
port at the second meeting of the
second period.a)

(ART. 70. All bills shall go
through the following stages:

I. Examination and report by a
committee.
II. One or two debates, in the
manner to be set forth in the fol-
lowing clauses.
III. The first debate shall take
place on the day set apart for that
purpose by the president of the
Congress, according to the rules.
IV. When the debate is closed
a copy of the record thereof shall
be sent to the Executive, in order
that within the period of seven
days it may express its opinion or
waive the right to express it.
V. If the opinion of the Execu-
tive is in favor of the bill a vote
shall be taken on it without further
debate.
VI. If the opinion of the Exec-
utive is not in favor of the bill,
whether wholly or in part, the bill
shall be recommitted, in order that
the observations made against it
may be taken into consideration.
VII. The new report of the
committee shall then be discussed,
and when the debate is closed a
vote shall be taken upon it.
VIII. Approval by absolute
majority of the representatives
present.a)
(ART. 71. In case of notorious
urgency, declared by a vote of
two-thirds of the members present,
the Congress can suspend the rules

PARAGRAPH III.
Powers of Congress.
ART. 72. The Congress has
power:
I. To admit new States or Ter-
ritories into the Federal Union,
incorporating them in the nation.
II. To turn Territories into
States when they shall have a
population of eighty thousand in-
habitants and the necessary ele-
ments to provide for their political
existence.
(III. To form new States within
the limits of those now existing,
when so requested by eighty thou-
sand of their inhabitants, and upon
proof that they have the necessary
elements to meet the exigencies
of their political existence. In all
cases the Congress shall hear the
opinion of the legislatures of the
States to which the measure refers,
and its decision shall be carried into
effect only if ratified by a majority
of the State legislatures.")
IV. To settle finally the limits
of the States, terminating the dif-
ferences which may arise between
them relative to the demarcation
of their respective territories, ex-
cept when the differences are of
judicial character.

V. To change the residence of
the supreme powers of the Fed-
eration.
VI. To provide for the internal
organization of the Federal Dis-
trict and Territories, upon the
basis that the citizens shall choose
by popular election the political,
municipal, and judicial authorities,
and endow them with the revenue
necessary to cover their local ex-
penses.
VII. To approve the estimates
of the Federal expenses, which the

Executive shall annually submit
to it, and order the taxes neces-
sary to meet said expenses to be
levied and collected.
VIII. To establish the bases upon
which the Executive may make
loans on the credit of the nation;
to approve said loans and to recog-
nize and order the payment of the
national debt.

IX. To enact laws fixing the
duties to be levied on foreign com-
merce, and prevent, by general
provisions, onerous restrictions
from being established on the com-
merce between the States.
(X. To establish the general
bases of commercial legislation.,)
XI. To create or abolish Fed-
eral offices, and to fix, increase, or
decrease their salaries.

XII. To confirm the nomina-
tions, made by the Executive, of
ministers, diplomatic agents, and
consuls, superior officers of the
treasury, colonels and other su-
perior officers of the national
army and navy.
XIII. To approve the treaties.
agreements, or diplomatic conven-
tions which the Executive may
make.
XIV. To declare war, upon ex-
amination of the facts submitted
by the Executive.
XV. To regulate the manner in
which letters of marque may be
issued; to enact laws according to
which the prizes on sea and land
shall be adjudged good or bad;
and to frame the maritime law of
peace and war.

XVI. To grant or refuse per-
mission to foreign troops to enter
the territory of the Republic, and
to allow fleets of other powers to
remain for more than one month
in the waters of the Republic.

(XVII. To permit national
troops to go beyond the limits of
the Republic.")
XVIII. To raise and maintain
the army and navy of the Union,
and regulate their organization
and service.
XIX. To make rules for the
organization, armament, and dis-
cipline of the national guard, re-
serving respectively to the citizens
who compose it the appointment of
the commanders and officers, and
to the States the power of instruct-
ing it in conformity with the dis-
cipline prescribed by said regula-
tions.
XX. To consent to the use by
the Executive of the national guard
outside of its respective States
and Territories, determining the
strength of the force required.

XXI. To enact laws on natu-
ralization, colonization, and citi-
zenship.
XXII. To enact laws on the
general means of communication
and on post-roads and post-offices.
XXIII. To establish mints, reg-
ulate the value and kinds of the
national coin, determine the value
of foreign coins, and adopt a gen-
eral system of weights and meas-
ures.
XXIV. To make rules for the
occupation and sale of public lands
and the prices thereof.

XXV. To grant pardons for
offenses subject to federal jurisdic-
tion.

(XXVI. To grant rewards for
eminent services rendered to the
country or to humanity, and priv-
ileges for a limited time to invent-
ors and improvers of industrial
devises. )

XXVII. To extend for thirty
working days the first period of
its ordinary sessions.

XXVIII. To make rules for its
internal government and take the
necessary measures to compel the
attendance of absent members, and
punish the faults or omissions of
those present.
XXIX. To appoint and remove
freely the employees in the offices
of its secretary, and paymaster,
which lh ....- shall be organized as
the law may provide.
(XXX. To enact all laws which
may be necessary and proper to.
enforce the foregoing powers and
all others granted by this Consti-
tution to the authorities of the
Union.a)
PARAGRAPH IV.
The permanent committee.

(ART. 73. During the recesses of
Congress there shall be a per-
manent committee consisting of a
representative for each State and
Territory, appointed by the Con-
gress on the eve of the close of its
sessions.6)
ART. 74. The powers of the
permanent committee shall be the
following:
I. To give its consent to the use
of the national guard in the cases
mentioned in article 72, Clause
XX.
(II. To call, on its own motion,
or at the request of the Executive,
an extra session of Congress.')

III. To approve the appoint-
ments referred to in article 85,
Clause III.
(IV. To administer the oath of
office to the President of the Re-
public, and to the justices of the
supreme court in the cases pro-
vided for by this Constitution.c)
V. To prepare a report upon all
pending matters, in order that the
next legislature may immediately

SECTION II.
Executive power.
ART. 75. The exercise of the
supreme executive power of the
Union is vested in a single individ-
ual, who shall be called President
of the United Mexican States."
ART. 76. The election of Presi-
dent shall be indirect in the first
degree, and by secret ballot, in
such manner as may be prescribed
by the electoral law.
ART. 77. No person shall be
eligible to the position of Presi-
dent who is not a Mexican citizen
by birth, in the exercise of his
rights, thirty-five years old at the
time of the election, not belonging
-to the ecclesiastical state, and a
resident of the country at the time
in which the election is held.
(ART. 78. The President shall
enter upon the performance of
. the duties of his office on the
first of December, and shall con-
tinue in office four years.")
(ART. 79. In the temporary va-
cancies of the office of President of
the Republic, and in the absolute
vacancy until the inauguration of
the newly elected President, the
chief justice of the supreme court
shall act as President.*)
(ART. 80. In case of absolute
vacancy of the office of President
a new election shall be held in ac-
cordance with the provisions of
article 76, and the newly elected
President shall perform his func-
tions until the last day of Novem-
ber of the fourth year following
his election.c)
ART. 81. The President of the
Union can not resign his position,
except for grave cause, approved
by Congress, to which the resig-
nation shall be tendered.

"Amended May 5, 1878, October 21, 1887. See pages 82 and 90. Reenacted
December 20, 1890. See pace 90.
bAmended October 3, 1--.', and April 24, 1896. See pages 84 and 91.
c Amended April 24, 1896. See page 94.

(ART. 82. If for any reason what-
ever the election of President is
not made and published by the
first of December, on which day
the transfer of the office should be
made, or if the President-elect is
not then ready to enter upon the
discharge of his duties, the former
President shall cease, nevertheless,
and the executive power shall be
vested ad interim in the chief jus-
tice of the supreme court.a)
(ArT. 83. The President, on tak-
ing possession of his office, shall
take before Congress, and in its
recess before the permanent com-
mittee, the following oath: I
swear to perform loyally and
patriotically the duties of Presi-
dent of the United Mexican States,
according to the Constitution, hav-
ing always in view the welfare and
prosperity of the Union."')
ART. 84. The President shall
not leave the place of residence of
the Federal powers, nor lay aside
the exercise of his functions, with-
out grave cause, approved by the
Congress, and in its recesses by
the permanent committee:
ART. 85. The powers and duties
of the President are the following:

1. To promulgate and execute
the laws passed by the Congress
of the Union, providing, within
the Executive sphere, for their
exact observance.
II. To appoint and remove
freely the secretaries of state, to
remove the diplomatic agents and
superior officers of the treasury,
and to appoint and remove freely
the other federal officials whose
appointment or removal is not
otherwise provided for in the Con-
stitution or the laws.

III. To appoint, with the appro-
val of Congress, and, in its recess,
of the permanent committee, min-
b Amended April 24, 1896. See page 94.

sisters, diplomatic agents, and con-
suls-general.
IV. To appoint, with the ap-
proval of Congress, colonels and
other superior officers of the
national army and navy, and supe-
rior officers of the treasury.
V. To appoint all other officers
of the national army and navy,
according to the laws.
VI. To dispose of the perma-
nent land and sea forces for the
security and defense of the Fed-
eration.
VII. To dispose of the national
guard for the same purposes, in
the manner provided by article 72,
clause XX.
VIII. To declare war in the name
of the United Mexican States, after
the passage of the necessary law by
the Congress of the Union.
IX. To grant letters of marque,
upon the bases fixed by the Con-
gress.
X. To conduct diplomatic nego
tiations and to make treaties with
foreign powers, submitting them
for ratification to the Federal Con-
gress.
XI. To receive ministers and
other envoys from foreign powers.

XII. To call, upon resolution of
the permanent committee, an extra
session of Congress.
XIII. To give the judicial power
the assistance which may be nec-
essary for the free exercise of its
functions.
XIV. To open all classes of
ports, establish maritime and fron-
tier custom-houses and designate
their location.
(XV. To grant, according to
law. pardons to criminals sen-
tenced for offenses within the juris-
diction of the Federal tribunals.a)
ART. 86. For the transaction of
the business of the executive de-
partment of the Federation there
shall be the number of secretaries

which the Congress may fix by law,
said law to provide also for the
distribution of business among the
different secretaries.
ART. 87. No person shall be ap-
pointed Secretary who is not a
Mexican citizen by birth, in the
exercise of his rights, and twenty-
five years old.
ART. 88. All rules, decrees, and
orders of the President shall be
signed by the secretary of the
department to which the subject
belongs. Without this requisite
they shall not be obeyed.

ART. 89. The Secretaries shall,
as soon as the sessions of the first
period are opened, render an ac-
count to the Congress of the state
of their respective departments.

SECTION III.

Judicial power.

ART. 90. The judicial power of
the Federation is vested in a su-
preme court and in the district and
circuit courts.

ART. 91. The supreme court
shall consist of eleven justices, four
supernumerary justices, one attor-
ney-general, and one solicitor-
general.
ART. 92. The justices of the su-
preme court shall serve for six
years, and their election shall be
indirect in the first degree, in the
manner established by the elec-
toral law.
ART. 93. No person shall be
eligible to the position of justice
of the supreme court who, in the
judgment of the electors, is not
learned in the science of law,
thirty-five years of age, and a
Mexican citizen by birth, in the
exercise of his rights.
(ART. 94. The justices of the
supreme court shall, on enter-
ing upon the exercise of their
functions, take an oath before
Congress, and, in its recesses,

before the permanent committee,
in the following form: Do you
swear to perform loyally and
patriotically the functions of jus-
tice of the supreme court of jus-
tice, which the people have con-
ferred upon you, in conformity
with the Constitution, having al-
ways in view the welfare and pros-
perity of the Union? a)
ART. 95. No resignation of the
position of justice of the supreme
court shall be admitted, except for
grave cause, approved by the Con-
gress, to whom the resignation
shall be tendered. In the recesses
of the Congress the power to act
on this matter belongs to the per-
manent committee.
ART. 96. The law shall establish
and organize the circuit and dis-
trict courts.
ART. 97. The Federal tribunals
shall take cognizance of:
(I. All controversies which may
arise in regard to the compliance
with and application of the Federal
laws. )
II. All cases pertaining to mari-
time law.
III. All cases to which the Fed-
eration may be a party.
IV. All cases which may arise
between two or more States.
V. All cases which may arise
between a State and one or more
citizens of another State.
VI. All civil or criminal cases
that may arise out of treaties with
foreign powers.

VII. All cases concerning diplo-
matic agents and consuls.

ART. 98. The supreme court
shall have original jurisdiction
of controversies which may arise
between one State and another,
and of those to which the Union
may be a party.
ART. 99. The supreme court
shall also have power to settle
25, ,1873. See page 70.
84. See page 88.

questions of jurisdiction between
Federal tribunals, between these
tribunals and those of the States,
or between those of one State and
those of another.
ART. 100. In all the other cases
mentioned in article 97, the su-
preme court shall be either a court
of appeals, or a court of last resort,
as may be defined by the law regu-
lating the jurisdiction of the cir-
cuit and district courts.

ART. 101. The tribunals of the
Federation shall decide all ques-
tions arising out of:
I. Laws or acts of whatever au-
thority violating individual guar-
anties.
II. Laws or acts of the Federal
authority encroaching upon or re-
stricting the sovereignty of the
it.it,.-.
III. Laws or acts of the State
authorities invading the sphere of
the Federal authority.
ART. 102. All the cases referred
to in the preceding article shall be
conducted, on petition of the ag-
grieved party, according to rules
of proceedings which a special law
shall establish. The decision shall
always be rendered in such a lan-
guage as to exclusively affect the
individuals concerned in the case,
limiting itself to defend and protect
them in the special case to which
the proceedings refer, without
making any general declaration
respecting the law or the act which
gave rise to the case.
TITLE IV.

DE LA RESPONSABILIDAD DE LOS RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PUBLIC
FUNCIONARIOS PtJBLICOS. FUNCTIONARIES.

(A RT. 103. Members of the Con-
gress of the Union, the chief jus-
tice and associate justices of the
supreme court, and the members
of the cabinet are responsible for
the common offenses which they
may commit during their terms of
office, and for the crimes, misde-

meanors, or omissions of which
they may be guilty in the perform-
ance of their official duties. Gov-
ernors of the States are likewise
responsible for the violation of the
Constitution and Federal laws.
The President of the Republic is
also responsible; but no charge
shall be made against him, during
his term of office, except for treason
against the country, express viola-
tion of the Constitution, attack on
the freedom of election, and grave
offenses of common character.a)
(ART. 104. If the crime should
be a common one, the Congress,
acting as a grand jury, shall de-
clare, by absolute majority of votes,
whether or not there is sufficient
ground to proceed against the ac-
cused. In the negative case, there
shall be no ground for further
proceeding; in the affirmative, the
accused shall be, by the said act,
deprived of his office, and sub-
jected to the action of the ordinary
tribunals. ,)
(ART. 105. The Congress shall
take cognizance of official crimes,
as a jury of accusation, and the su-
preme court as a court of im-
peachment.
The jury of accusation shall
declare, by absolute majority of
votes, whether or not the accused
shall be impeached. If the decla-
ration is in the negative, the func-
tionary shall continue in the exer-
cise of his office; if it is in the
affirmative, he shall be immedi-
ately deprived of his office, and
placed at the disposal of the su-
preme court of justice. The lat-
ter, sitting as a court of impeach-
ment, shall, in the presence of the
accused party, and of the accuser,
if there is one, and of the attorney-
general, render by absolute major-
ity of votes, the sentence which the
law may warrant. ,)

ART. 106. In cases of impeach-
ment no pardon can be granted to
the offender.

ART. 107. The responsibility
for official crimes and misdemean-
ors can only be enforced during
the period in which the function-
ary remains in office, and one year
thereafter.
ART. 108. In civil cases no privi-
lege or immunity in favor of any
public functionary shall be recog-
nized.
TITLE V.
STATES OF THE FEDERATION.

(ART. 109. The States shall
adopt for their internal regime the
popular, representative, republi-
can form of government.")
ART. 110. The States shall have
the power to fix among themselves,
by friendly agreements, their re-
spective boundaries; but those
agreements shall not be carried
into effect without the approval of
the Congress of the Union.
ART. 111. The States can not in
any case:
I. Enter into alliances, treaties,
or coalitions with another State, or
with foreign powers. Coalitions
between frontier States for offen-
sive or defensive war against sav-
age Indians are excepted.

11. Grant letters of marque or
reprisal.
(III. Coin money, issue paper
money, or create stamped paper.b)
ART. 112. Neither can they,
without the consent of the Con-
gress of the Union:
I. Establish tonnage duties, or
any port duty, or impose taxes or
duties upon imports or exports.

II. Have at any time permanent
troops or vessels of war.

a Amended May 5, 1878, and October 21, 1887. See pages 83 and 90.
b Amended May 1, 1896. See page 90.

III. Make war by itself on any
foreign power, except in cases of
invasion or of such imminent peril
as to admit of no delay. In these
cases the State shall give notice
immediately to the President of
the Republic.
ART. 113. Each State is bound
to deliver without delay to the au-
thority which may claim them, the
fugitives from justice of other
States.
ART. 114. The governors of the
States are bound to publish and
enforce the Federal laws.

ART. 115. In each State of the
Federation entire faith and credit
shall be given to the public acts,
records, and judicial proceedings
of all the other St-it. -. The Con-
gress may, by means of general
laws, prescribe the manner of
proving said acts, records, and
proceedings, and the effect thereof.
ART. 116. The Federal Govern-
ment is bound to protect the
States against all invasion or ex-
ternal violence. In case of insur-
rection or internal disturbance it
shall give them the same protec-
tion, provided that the legislature
of the State, or the Executive, if
the legislature is not in session,
shall request it.
TITLE VI.
GENERAL PROVISIONS.
ART. 117. The powers which
are not expressly granted by this
Constitution to the Federal au-
thorities are understood to be re-
served to the States.
ART. 118. No person shall hold
at the same time two Federal elec-
tive offices; but if elected to two,
he may choose the one which he
may prefer.

ART. 119. No payment shall be
made which is not included in the
budget or authorized by a law
subsequent to the same.

ART. 120. The President of the
Republic, the justices of the su-
preme court, the members of Con-
gress, and all other public officers
of the Federation, who are chosen
by popular election, shall receive
a compensation for their services,
which shall be determined by law
and paid by the Federal treasury.
This compensation can not be
waived, and any law which may in-
crease or decrease it shall not have
effect during the period for which
a functionary holds the office.
(ART. 121. Every public officer,
without any exception, before en-
tering on the discharge of his du-
ties, shall take an oath to maintain
this Constitution and the laws
emanating from it.")
ART. 122. In time of peace no
military authority shall exercise
other functions than those having
close connection with military dis-
cipline. No fixed and permanent
military offices shall be established
except in castles, fortresses, and
arsenals depending immediately
upon the government of the
Union, or in camps, barracks, or
depots established outside of towns
for stationing troops.

ART. 123. The Federal authori-
ties shall have exclusive power to
exercise, in matters of religious
worship and external ecclesiastic
discipline, the intervention which
the laws may authorize.
(ART. 124. On and after the first
of June, eighteen hundred and
fifty-eight, the alcabala taxes, and
the interior custom-houses shall be
abolished in the whole Republic. b)
ART. 125. The forts, barracks,
arsenals, and all other edifices nec-
essary to the government of the
Union shall be under the immedi-
ate inspection of the Federal au-
thorities.
A RT. 126. This Constitution, the
laws of the Congress of the Union

a Amended September 25, 1873. See page 71.
b Amended May 17, 1882, November 25, 1884, November 22, 1886, and May 1, 1896.
See pages 83, 88, 89, and 96.

emanating therefrom, and all the
treaties made or to be made by the
President of the Republic, with
the approval of Congress, shall be
the supreme law of the whole
Union. The judges of each State
shall be guided by said Constitu-
tion, laws, and treaties, any pro-
vision to the contrary in the con-
stitutions or laws of the States
notwithstanding.

ART. 127. The present Consti-
tution may be amended. No
amendment shall become part of
the Constitution, if not agreed
upon by the Congress of the
Union, by a vote of two-thirds of
the members present, and approved
by a majority of the legislatures
of the States. The Congress of
the Union shall count the votes
of the legislatures and make the
declaration that the amendments
have been adopted.

TITLE VIII.
INVIOLABILITY OF THE CONSTI-
TUTION.

ART. 128. This Constitution shall
not lose its force and vigor even if
its observance is interrupted by a
rebellion. In case that by any pub-
lic disturbance a government con-
trary to the principles which it
sanctions is established, its efficien-
cy shall be restored as soon as the
people regain their liberty, and
those who shall have figured in
the government emanating from
the rebellion, or have cooperated
with it, shall be tried in accordance
with its provisions, and the pro-
visions of the laws emanating
from it.

TRANSIENT PROVISION.
The present Constitution shall
be published at once and sworn
to with the greatest solemnity
throughout the whole Republic;
but its provisions, except those
relating to the election of the
supreme powers, Federal and
State, shall not go into effect until
the sixteenth of September next,
when the First Congress, under
the Constitution, shall meet. On
and after that date the President
of the Republic and the justices
of the supreme court, who shall
continue in the exercise of their
functions until their successors
are constitutionally elected and
enter into the discharge of their
duties, shall act in strict accord-
ance with the provisions of this
Constitution.
Given at the Hall of sessions of
Congress in the City of Mexico
on the fifth of February, eighteen
hundred and fifty-seven, the thirty-
seventh of the Independence.

LAW OF SEPTEMBER 25, 1873.
The Congress of the United
Mexican States, in exercise of the
power vested in it by article 127
of the Political Constitution pro-
mulgated on February twelfth,
eighteen hundred and fifty-seven,
and having obtained the approval
of a majority of the State legisla-
tures, does hereby decree:
That the Constitution of the
Republic be amended by adding
to it the following:
ARTICLE 1. The church and the
state are independent of each
other. Congress shall not enact
laws establishing or forbidding
any religion.

ART. 2. Marriage is a civil con-
tract. Marriage and all other acts
relating to the civil state of per-
sons shall fall exclusively within
the jurisdiction of the civil au-
thorities in the manner and form
provided by law, and they shall
have the force and validity given
to them by said laws.
ART. 3. No religious institu-
tions can acquire real estate or
capital secured by mortgage on
the same, except only in the case
set forth in article 27 of the Con-
stitution.
ART. 4. A simple promise to tell
the truth and to comply with obli-
gations entered into, shall take the
place of the religious oath with all
its effects and penalties.
ART. 5. No one shall be com-
pelled to do personal work with-
out just compensation and without
his full consent. The State shall
not permit any contract, covenant,
or agreement to be carried out,
having for its object the abridg-
ment, loss, or irrevocable sacrifice
of the liberty of man, whether
by reason of labor, education, or
religious vows. The law, there-
fore, does not recognize monastic
orders, nor can it allow them to
be established, whatever the de-
nomination or object may be with
which they may attempt to come
into existence. Nor shall any com-
pact be tolerated in which man
agrees to his own proscription or
exile.
Transient Article. The fore-
going amendments to the Constitu-
tion shall be published at once with
the greatest -solemnity throughout
the Republic.
Palace of Congress, Mexico,
September twenty-fifth, eighteen
hundred and seventy-three.

II.
LAW OF NOVEMBER 13, 18.74.

El Congress de la Uni6n, en The Congress of the Union, in
ejercicio de la facultad que le con- exercise of the power vested in it by

article 127 of the Federal Consti-
tution, declares the following
amendments to have been approved
by a majority of the State legisla-
tures and be a part of the said
constitution. They shall go into
effect on September sixteenth,
eighteen hundred and seventy-five.

TITLE III.

SECTION I.

Legislative power.

ART. 51. The legislative power
of the nation is vested in a gen-
eral Congress which shall consist
of a Chamber of Deputies and a
Senate.

PARAGRAPH I.
Election and meeting of Congress.

ART. 52. The Chamber of Depu-
ties shall consist of representatives
of the nation elected by the Mexi-
can citizens every two years.

ART. 57. The positions of Dep-
uty and senator are incompatible
with any other salaried commission
or employment by the Union.
ART. 58. Deputies and senators
are disqualified, from the day of
their election until the day on
which their term expires, from
accepting from the Federal Exec-
utive without previous permission
of their respective Chamber any
salaried position. The same pro-
vision is applicable to substitutes,
when in active service.

A. The Senate shall consist of
two senators for each State and
two for the Federal District. The
election of senators shall be indi-
rect in the first degree. The leg-

islature of each State shall declare
elected the one who has obtained
absolute majority of the votes
cast, or shall choose in the manner
provided by the electoral law from
among those who obtained relative
majority. Each senator shall have
a substitute, to be elected in the
same manner.
B. The Senate shall be renewed
by half every two years. Sena-
tors occupying the second place in
the representation of each State,
shall vacate their seats at the end
of the first two years. After the
second year the withdrawal shall
be according to seniority.
C. The qualifications necessary
to be a senator are the same as
those necessary to be a Deputy,
except as to the age, which in the
case of a senator shall be at least
thirty years on the day of the
opening of the session.
ART. 59. Deputies and senators
are inviolable for the opinions ex-
pressed by them in the fulfillment
of their duties and shall never be
called to account for them.
ART. 60. Each Chamber shall be
the judge of the election of its
members, and shall decide all
questions arising therefrom.
ART. 61. The Chambers shall not
begin their sessions or exercise
their functions without a quorum,
in the Senate of two-thirds, and in
the chamber of Deputies of more
than one-half of the total number
of its members; but the members
present of either Chamber shall
meet on the appointed day and
compel through the proper penal-
ties the attendance of the absen-
tees.
ART. 62. Congress shall hold
two ordinary sessions each year;
the first one shall begin on the six-
teenth of September and end on
the fifteenth of December; but this
period may be extended for thirty
days. The second shall begin on the

first of April and end on the last
day of May, but may be extended
for fifteen days.

ART. 64. The action of Congress
shall be in the form of either laws
or resolutions, which shall be com-
municated to the Executive after
having been signed by the presi-
dents of both Chambers and by one
of the secretaries of each. When
promulgated, the enacting clause
shall be: "The Congress of the
United Mexican States decrees,"
etc.
PARAGRAPH II.
Origin and enactment of laws.
ART. 65. The right to originate
legislation belongs:
1. To the President of the
Union.
2. To the Deputies and senators
in the general Congress.
3. To the State legislatures.

ART. 66. Bills or resolutions in-
introduced by the President of the
Republic, by the State legislatures
or delegations thereof, shall be at
once referred to a committee.
Those introduced by Deputies or
senators shall be subject to the re-
quirements of the Rules of debate.

ART. 67. No bill or resolution
rejected in the Chamber of origin
before passing to the other Cham-
ber shall be reintroduced during
the sessions of that year.

ART. 69. The Executive shall
transmit to the Chamber of Depu-
ties, on the eve of the last day of
the session, the accounts of the
year and the Budget for the next.
Thev shall be referred to a special
committee, which shall be ap-
pointed that day, consisting of five
members, whose duty it shall be to
examine both documents and re-
port thereon at the second meeting
of the second period.

ART. 70. Bills and resolutions
may be introduced indiscrimi-
nately either in the House or in the
Senate; but those providing for
loans, taxes, or recruiting of troops
shall be first discussed in the Cham-
ber of Deputies.

ART. 71. Bills and resolutions
requiring the action of both Cham-
bers shall be discussed first by one
and then by the other, according to
the Rules, and in the manner and
form provided for this purpose.

A. Bills and resolutions passed
in the Chamber of origin shall be
sent to the other Chamber. If
passed by the latter they shall be
forwarded to the Executive, which,
if having no objection to them,
shall cause them to be immediately
published.
B. Bills and resolutions not re-
turned by the Executive to the
Chamber of origin within ten
working days shall be considered
approved, unless during the said
ten days Congress has adjourned,
in which case they shall be re-
turned on the first working day
of the next session.

C. Bills and resolutions rejected
wholly or in part by the Executive
shall be returned with the objec-
tions thereto to the Chamber of ori-
gin. They shall be discussed anew
by the latter, and if passed by abso-
lute majority of votes shall be sent
to the other. If approved by it,
also by absolute majority, the bill
or resolution becomes a law, and
shall be sent to the Executive for
its promulgation. In such cases
the votes in both Chambers shall
beby yeas and nays, and the names
of the persons voting for or against
the bill shall be entered on the jour-
nal of each chamber, respectively.

D. Bills or resolutions totally
rejected by the Chamberof revision
shall be returned with the proper
remarks to the Chamber of origin.
If examined anew and approved
by absolute majority of the mem-
bers present, they shall be returned
to the Chamber of revision, which
shall again consider them, and if
approved by it, also by absolute
majority, they shall be sent to the
Executive for the purposes of
clause A; but if rejected they shall
not be reintroduced until the next
Congress.

E. Bills or resolutions rejected
only in part or amended by the
Chamber of revision shall be dis-
cussed anew in the Chamber of
origin, but the discussion shall be
exclusively confined to the portion
rejected or to the amendments,
without the approved articles
being altered in any respect. If
the amendments made by the
Chamber of revision are approved
by absolute majority of votes in
the Chamberof origin, the billshall
be transmitted to the Executive for
the purposes of clause A. But
if the amendments made by the
Chamber of revision are rejected by
majority of votes in the Chamber
of origin, they shall be returned
to the former in order that the
reasons set forth by the latter may
be taken into consideration. If in
this second revision the said amend-
ments are rejected by absolute
majority of the members present,
the portion of the bill which has
been approved by both Chambers
shall be sent to the Executive for
the purposes of clause A. If the
Chamber of revision insists byabso-
lute majority of votes of the mem-
bers present upon the amend-
ments, no action shall be taken
upon the whole bill until the next
Congress, unless both Chambers
agree by absolute majority of the
members present to the promulga-
tion of the law or resolution with-

out the articles objected to, which
shall be left for further discussion
in the following session.

F. The same formalities re-
quired for the enactment of laws
shall be observed for their inter-
pretation, amendment, or repeal.

G. Both Chambers shall hold
their meetings at the same place,
and shall not move to another with-
out first having agreed upon the
moving and the time and manner
of accomplishing it, as well as upon
the place of meeting which shall be
the same for both Chambers. If
both Chambers agree to change
their meeting place, but disagree
as to the time, manner, or locality,
the Executive shall settle the ques-
tion by choosing between both
votes. Neither Chamber shall ad-
journ for more than three days
without the consent of the other.
H. When Congress meets in ex-
tra session it shall deal exclusively
with the matter or matters speci-
fied in the call. If the object of
the extra session has not been
accomplished at the time in which
the ordinary session begins, there
shall be, nevertheless, a formal
closing of the extra session, and
the unfinished business shall be
taken up and discussed in the ordi-
nary session.
The Executive of the Union shall
not make objections to the reso-
lutions of Congress providing for
an adjournment of its sessions, or
passed by it when sitting as an
electoral body or a court.
PARAGRAPH III.
Powers of the general Congress.
ART. 72. Congress shall have
power:
SII. To form new States within
the limits of the existing ones, if
the following requisites are com-
plied with:
1. That the section aspiring to
be erected into a State has a popu-

lation of at least one hundred and
twenty thousand inhabitants.
2. That proof is given to Con-
gress that it has sufficient elements
to provide for its political exist-
ence.
3. That the legislatures of the
States affected by the erection of
the new one, express their opinion
on the advisability, or inadvis-
ability of said erection, this opin-
ion to be given within six months
after the date of the communica-
tion addressed to them for that
purpose.
4. That the opinion of the Fed-
eral Executive be also heard on
the subject, said opinion to be
given within seven days after the
date on which it was asked.
5. That the erection of the new
State be voted upon favorably by
two-thirds of the representatives
and senators present in their re-
spective Chambers.
6. That the resolution of Con-
gress be ratified by a majority of
the state legislatures, upon exam-
ination of the copy of the record
of the case which shall be sent to
them, provided that the legisla-
tures of the States to which the sec-
tion belongs have given their con-
sent.
7. If the legislatures of the
States to which the section be-
longs have not given their consent,
the ratification referred to in the
foregoing clause shall be made by
two-thirds of the legislatures of
the other States.

A. The following are exclusive
powers of the Chamber of Dupu-
ties:
I. To resolve itself into an elec-
toral college to exercise the power
given it by law regarding the ap-
pointments of constitutional Pres-
ident of the Republic, justices of
the supreme court and senators
for the Federal District.
II. To pass upon the resignations
of the President of the Republic
and of the justices of the supreme

court, and to grant or refuse the
leaves of absence requested by the
President.

III. To watch, by means of a
special committee, over the faith-
ful compliance by the comptroller
of the treasury with the duties of
his office.
IV. To appoint all the em-
ployees of the comptroller's office.
V. To resolve itself into a grand
jury and formulate articles of im-
peachment against the high func-
tionaries mentioned in article 103
of the Constitution.
VI. To examine the accounts to
be rendered yearly by the Execu-
tive, approve the annual Budget,
and originate taxation for the pur-
pose of meeting the expenses of
the Government.
B. The following are exclusive
powers of the Senate:
I. To approve the treaties and
conventions concluded by the Ex-
ecutive with foreign powers.

II. To confirm the nominations
made by the President of the Re-
public, of diplomatic ministers or
agents, consuls-general, superior
officers of the treasury, colonels
and superior officers of the army
and navy, in the manner and form
established by law.
III. To authorize the Execu-
tive to allow national troops to go
beyond the limits of the Republic,
or permit foreign troops to pass
through the national territory, and
to consent to the presence of fleets
of another nation for more than
one month in the waters of the
Republic.
IV. To consent to the Execu-
tive disposing of the national
guard outside of the limits of its
respective States or Territories,
and fix the amount of the force to
be used.
V. To declare, when the consti-
tutional, legislative, and executive
powers of any State have disap-
peared, that the moment has ar-

rived to give the said State a pro-
visional governor, who shall order
elections to be held according to
the constitutional law of the State.
The appointment of such governor
shall be made by the Federal Ex-
ecutive with the approval of the
Senate, or in its recess of the per-
manent committee. Thesaid func-
tionary shall not be eligible for the
position of constitutional governor
in the elections to be held under
the call issued by him.
VI. To decide any political ques-
tions which may arise between the
powers of a State, if any of them
applies to it. for that purpose, or
when the constitutional order has
been interrupted by an armed con-
flict in consequence of said ques-
tions. The decision of the Senate
shall be given in accordance with
the federal Constitution and that
of the State.

The exercise of the powers speci-
fied in this clause and the preced-
ing one shall be regulated by law.
VII. To resolve itself into a
court of impeachment, under arti-
cle 105 of the Constitution.
C. Each Chamber may without
intervention of the other:

1. Pass resolutions upon mat-
ters exclusively relating to its own
interior regime.
II. Communicate with each
other and with the Executive of
the Union, by means of commit-
tees appointed for that purpose.
III. Appoint the employees in
the office of its own secretary, and
make rules and regulations for the
same office.
IV. Issue a call for extraordi-
nary elections to fill the vacancies
which may have happened in it.

nent committee, consisting of
twenty-nine members, fifteen of
whom shall be representatives and
fourteen senators, appointed by
the respective chambers on the
eve of the day of final adjournment.
ART. 74. The powers of the per-
manent committee shall be:
II. To resolve, either on its own
motion, or at the suggestion of the
Executive, giving the latter a hear-
ing in the first case, the calling of
Congress, or of one of its chambers,
to hold an extra session. In both
cases the resolution shall be passed
by a two-thirds vote of the mem-
bers present. The call shall set
forth the object or objects to be
discussed in the extra session.
ART. 103. Senators, Deputies,
members of the supreme court,
and members of the cabinet shall
be responsible for the common
offenses committed by them during
their term of office, and for their
crimes, misdemeanors, or omis-
sions in the exercise of their func-
tions. The governors of the
States shall also be responsible
for the violation of the Federal
Constitution and laws. The Pres-
ident of the Republic shall be like-
wise responsible; but during his
term he can be charged only with
treason, express violation of the
Constitution, attacks on electoral
liberty, and grave common of-
fenses.
No constitutional privilege shall
be extended to any high Federal
functionary when tried for official
offenses, misdemeanors, or omis-
sions committed by him in the
discharge of some public function
or commission, during the time in
which, according to law, the privi-
lege is enjoyed. This provision
shall be applicable to cases of com-
mon offenses committed under the
same circumstances. In order that
the proceedings may be instituted
when the high functionary returns
to the exercise of his own func-

tions, the rules set forth in article
104 of the Constitution shall be
observed.
ART. 104. If the offense belongs
to the common class the Cham-
ber of Deputies, resolving itself
into a grand jury, shall declare by
absolute majority of votes whether
proceedings against the accused
should or should not be instituted.
If the resolution is negative no
further action shall be taken on
the subject. If it is affirmative
the accused shall, by the same fact,
be removed from his position, and
placed at the disposal of the ordi-
nary courts.
ART. 105. In cases of impeach-
ment the Chamber of Deputies
shall act as a grand jury and the
Senate as a tribunal.

The grand jury shall decide by
absolute majority of votes if the
accused is or is not to be impeached.
If the decision is favorable to the
accused functionary, the latter
shall continue in the exercise of
his functions. If it is adverse, the
accused official shall be immedi-
ately removed from his position
and put at the disposal of the
Senate. The Senate, resolving it-
self into a tribunal, shall, upon the
proper hearing of the defendant,
and also of the plaintiff, if there is
any, by absolute majority of votes
impose the penalty provided by
law.
III.
LAW OF MAY 5, 1878.

The Congress of the United
Mexican States in exercise of the
power vested in it by article 127
of the Federal Constitution, after
having obtained the approval of a
majority of the state legislatures,
does hereby amend articles 78 and
109 of the Constitution in the fol-
lowing terms:
ART. 78. The President shall
enter upon the duties of his office

on the first of December, and shall
hold the said office for four years.
He shall not be reelected for the
period immediately following, nor
shall he fill for any reason whatever
the presidential office until the said
intermediate period of four years
has elapsed.
ART. 109. The States shall adopt
for themselves the republican, rep-
resentative and popular form of
government, and they shall state
in their respective constitutions
the manner and form in which the
reelection of their governors shall
be forbidden.
The position of governor of a
State, whatever the reason may be
of his holding it, is incompatible
in all cases with his election for
the following period. The local
constitutions shall give form to this
provision in the terms and in the
manner which the respective
legislatures may deem advisable.
IV.
LAW OF MAY 17, 1882.
(Amended Nov. 22, 1886.)
The Congress of the United
Mexican States, in exercise of
the power vested in it by article
127 of the Federal Constitution,
after having obtained the approval
of a majority of the state legisla-
tures, does hereby amend article
124 of the Constitution in the fol-
lowing terms:
ART. 124. On the first day of
December, eighteen hundred and
eighty-four, at the latest, the
alcabala taxes and the interior cus-
tom-houses in the Federal District
and Territory and in the States in
which they still exist, shall be
abolished.
V.
LAW OF JUNE 2, 1882.
The Congress of the United
Mexican States, in exercise of
the power vested in it by article

127 of the Federal Constitution,
after having obtained the approval
of a majority of the state legis-
latures, does hereby amend clause
XXVI of article 72 of the Consti-
tution, and article 85 of the same in
the following terms:
ARTICLE 1. Clause XXVI of
article 72 of the Constitution shall
read as follows:

XXVI. To grant rewards for
eminent services rendered to the
country or to humanity.

ART. 2. Article 85 of the Con-
stitution is hereby amended by
adding to it the following clause:
XVI, To grant exclusive
privileges, for a limited time, and
according to the respective law, to
discoverers, inventors, or improv-
ers in some branch of industry.

VI.
LAW OF OCTOBER 3, 1882.
The Congress of the United
Mexican States, in exercise of
the power vested in it by article
127 of the Federal Constitution,
after having obtained the approval
of a majority of the state legisla-
tures, does hereby amend articles
79, 80, and 82 of the Constitution
in the following terms:
ART. 79. During the tempo-
rary vacancy of the Presidency of
the Republic, and in the absolute
one, as long as the President elect
does not put in his appearance, the
citizen who has filled the position
of president or vice-president of
the Senate or of the permanent
committee in periods of recess,
during the month preceding the
vacancy, shall act as President of
the nation.
A. The president and vice-
president of the Senate and of the
permanent committee shall not be
reelected to those offices except
after the lapse of one year.

B. If the session of the Senate
or of the permanent committee
begins in the second half of the
month, the vacancy in the Presi-
dency of the Republic shall be
filled by the president or vice-
president of the Senate or of the
permanent committee during the
first half of the same month.

C. The Senate and the perma-
nent committee shall renew on the
last day of each monththieirpresi-
dent and vice-president. The per-
manent committee shall elect for
these positions alternatively two
representatives in one month and
two senators in the following.
D. When the vacancy of the
Presidency of the Republic is abso-
lute, the functionary called consti-
tutionally to act as President shall
order, within fifteen days, a new
election, to be held three months
thereafter, according to the provi-
sion of article 76 of the Constitu-
tion. The President ad interim is
not eligible to succeed himself as
President.

E. If, on account of death or
any other cause, the functionaries
who according to these provisions
are called to take the place of Presi-
dent of the Republic, can not abso-
lutely do so, the position shall then
be filled by the citizen .who was
president or vice-president of the
Senate or of the permanent com-
mittee,during the month preceding
the one in which the said function-
aries held the same.
F. When the absolute vacancy
of the Presidency of the Republic
occurs during the last six months
of the presidential term, the Act-
ting President shall complete the
term.
G. To be president or vice-
president of the Senate or of the
permanent committee it shall be

necessary to be a native Mexican
citizen.
H. If the vacancy of the Pres-
idency of the Republic ocrcirs when
the permanent committee and the
Senate in extra session are holding
their meetings simultaneously, the
president of the committee shall be
the one called to act as President in
the manner and form provided by
this article.
I. The vice-president of the
Senate and of the permanent com-
mittee shall enter upon the per-
formance of the functions which
the present article confers upon
them when the vacancy of the pres-
idency of the Senate or of the per-
manent committee is absolute: in
the temporary ones they shall fill
the positions only as long as the
impediment lasts.
J. The President elect shall
enter upon the duties of his office
not later than sixty days after his
election. If the House of Repre-
sentatives is not in session at that
time, it shall be called to convene
in extra session, in order that the
counting of the votes be made with-
in the period above mentioned.
ART. 80. In cases of absolute
vacancy of the Presidency, the
time of service of the President
elect shall be computed from the
first of December of the year pre-
ceding his election, if he has not
taken possession of the office on
the date set forth in article 78.
ART. 82. If for any reason the
election of President is not made
and published on or before the first
of December, when the change of
administration is to take place,
or if the President-elect is not
ready to enter upon the discharge
of his duties, the President whose
term has expired shall cease never-
theless to hold his office, and the
supreme executive power shall be
temporarily vested in the function-
ary to whom it may belong accord-
ing to the provisions of article 79,
as amended, of the present Con-
stitution.

VII.
LAW OF MAY 15, 1883.
The Congress of the United
Mexican States, in exercise of
the power vested in it by article
127 of the Federal Constitution,
after having obtained the approval
of a majority of the state legisla-
tures, does hereby declare article
7 of the Constitution amended as
follows:
ART. 7. Freedom of writing
and publishing writings on any
subject is inviolable. No law or
authority shall have power to es-
tablish previous censorship, re-
quire bond from authors or
printers, or restrict the liberty of
the press which shall be limited
only by the respect due to private
life, morals, and public peace.
Cases of offenses committed
through the public press shall be
tried by the competent Courts
of the Union, the States, the
Federal District or the Territory
of Lower California, according
to penal law.
VIII.
LAW OF DECEMBER 14, 1883.
The Congress of the United
Mexican States, in exercise of
the power vested in it by article
127 of the Federal Constitution,
after having obtained the approval
of a majority of the state legisla-
tures, does hereby declare clause X
of article 72 of the said Constitu-
tion amended as follows:
X. To promulgate mining and
commercial codes, which shall be
observed throughout the whole
Republic. The banking law shall
form a part of the code of com-
merce.
IX.
LAW OF MAY 29, 1884.

El Congress de los Estados Uni- The Congress of the United
dos Mexicanos, en eiercicio de la Mexican States, in exercise of

the power vested in it by article
127 of the Federal Constitution,
after having obtained the approval
of a majority of the state legisla-
tures, does hereby declare clause I
of article 97 of the said Constitu-
tion amended as follows:
ART. 97. The Federal tribunals
shall take cognizance of:
I. All controversies arising out
of the application and enforcement
of the Federal laws, except when
only private interests are affected
thereby, in which case the local
state courts and tribunals and the
ordinary courts of the Federal
District and of the Territory of
Lower California shall have com-
petent jurisdiction over the same.

X.
LAW OF NOVEMBER 25, 1884.
(Amended Nov. 22, 1886.)
The Congress of the United
Mexican States, in exercise of the
power vested in it by article 127
of the Federal Constitution, after
having obtained the approval of a
majority of the State legislatures,
does hereby declare article 124 of
the said Constitution amended as
follows:
ART. 124. On the first of De-
cember, eighteen hundred and
eighty-six, at the latest, all the
alcabala taxes and the interior cus-
tom-houses in the Federal District,
the Territories of the Federation,
and the States in which they may
still exist, shall be abolished.

XI.
LAW OF NOVEMBER 22, 1886.

The Congress of the United
Mexican States, in exercise of
the power vested in it by article
127 of the Federal Constitution,
after having obtained the approval
of a majority of the State legisla-
tures, does hereby declare article

124 of the said Constitution amend-
ed as follows:
AnT. 124. The States shall not
levy any duty for the simple transit
of merchandise through their ter-
ritory. The Government of the
Union alone shall have the power
to levy transit duties, but only
on foreign merchandise crossing
the territory of the Republic by
international or interoceanic lines,
without remaining in the country
any longer than necessary to pass
through it.

They shall not forbid, directly or
indirectly, the admission into their
territory, or the exit from it, of
any kind of merchandise, unless it
is for reasons of police. Nor shall
they tax the articles of national
production when leaving for for-
eign countries, or for another State.
All exemptions from duties
granted by them shall be general,
and no discrimination shall be
made in favor of the products of
any particular origin.
The rate of taxation on any arti-
cle of merchandise shall be the
same, independently of the place of
origin, and no tax imposed on an
article shall be greater than that
imposed upon similar articles of
the State which imposes it.

Domestic merchandise shall not
be compelled to follow any speci-
fied route or be inspected or exam-
ined while on the way, nor shall
any fiscal document be required to
allow said merchandise to freely
circulate in the interior of the
country.
Foreign merchandise shall not
be burdened by the States with
heavier rates than those consented
to by the Federal law.
XII.
LAW OF OCTOBER 21, 1887.
The Congress of the United
Mexican States, in exercise of

the power vested in it by artice,
127 of the Federal Constitutionl
after having obtained the approval
of a majority of the State legisla-
tures, does hereby declare articles
78 and 109 of the Constitution
amended as follows:
ART. 78. The President shall
enter upon the discharge of the
duties of his office on the first of
December, and shall serve for four
years. He may be reflected for the
constitutional period immediately
following; butattheend thereof he
shall be disqualified to fill the Pres-
idency by further election, unless
four years have elapsed from the
day on which he ceased to exer-
cise his functions.
ART. 109. The States shall
adopt for their government a re-
publican, representative, and pop-
ular form, and they may embody
in their respective constitutions,
in regard to the reelection of their
governors the provisions of article
78 relating to the President of the
Republic.

XIII.
LAW OF DECEMBER 20, 1890.
The Congress of the United
Mexican States, in exercise of
the power vested in it by article
127 of the Federal Constitution,
after having obtained the approval
of a majority of the State legisla-
tures, does hereby declare article
78 of the Constitution amended as
follows:
ART. 78. The President shall
enter upon the duties of his office
on the first of December, and shall
serve four years.

XIV.
LAW OF APRIL 24, 1896.
The Congress of the United
Mexican States, in exercise of the
power vested in it by article 127

of the Federal Constitution, after
having obtained the approval of a
majority of the State legislatures,
does hereby declare articles 72, 79,
80, 82, and 83 of the Constitution
amended as follows:

ART. 72. The Congress has
power:
XXXI. To appoint, at a joint
session of both Chambers, a Presi-
dent of the Republic, who shall act
in case of absolute, or temporary,
vacancy of the Presidency, either
as a substitute, or as a President
ad interim. This provision is ap-
plicable to the case of vacancy,
whether absolute or temporary, of
the substitute President, or of the
President ad interim.
XXXII. To grant or refuse
leave of absence to the President
of the Republic.

The Chamber of Deputies has
exclusive power:
II. To accept or refuse to accept
the resignations of the President
of the Republic or of the justices
of the supreme court.
ART. 79. I. In case of absolute
vacancy of the Presidency, except
when the same is due to resigna-
tion, and in case of a temporary
vacancy, unless when due to a leave
of absence, the executive power
shall be immediately vested in the
secretary of foreign relations, and
if there should be no such official,
or should he be ineligible, in the
secretary of government.
II. The Congress of the Union
shall assemble in extra session on
the day next following, in the hall
of the Chamber of Deputies, more
than half of the total number of
members of both Chambers being
required to be present. The Pres-
ident of the Chamber of Deputies
shall preside over the meeting, and
the clerk of the same Chamber shall
act as secretary. If, through lack
of a quorum or other cause, the
meeting can not be held, the
members present shall meet daily

for the purpose of compelling,
according to law, the attendance of
the absent members, as soon as
possible.
III. In this session a substitute
President shall be elected by ab-
solute majority of the members
present, the vote to be nominal
and public. No measure of any
kind shall be discussed, and no
other business shall be transacted
at this meeting than the taking,
publishing, and recording of the
vote, and the announcing of the
name of the person elected.
IV. If no candidate receives
an absolute majority of votes,
the election shall be repeated be-
tween the two having the largest
number, and the one obtaining a
majority shall be elected. Should
the two competitors receive an
equal number of votes, a second
vote shall be taken, and if it also
results in a tie, the election shall
be decided by lot.
V. If more than two candi-
dates receive the same number of
votes, the choice shall be made be-
tween them, but should there be
at the same time another candidate
having a greater number of votes.
he shall be considered the first
competitor, and the second com-
petitor shall be determined by a
vote between the other candidates.
VI. If Congress is not in ses-
sion, it shall assemble without the
necessity of being called to con-
vene, on the fourteenth day after
the date of the vacancy. It shall
then be presided over by the chair-
man of the permanent committee,
and shall proceed as aforesaid.
VII. In case of absolute va-
cancy on account of the resigna-
tion of the President, Congress
shall assemble, as indicated, for the
purpose of appointing a substitute
President, and the resignation shall
not take effect until after the ap-
pointment has been made and the
Acting President has made the
legal protestation.

VIII. In case of temporary va-
cancies, whatever their cause may
be, Congress shall appoint a Pres-
ident ad interim following the
methods prescribed for cases of
absolute vacancies. Should the
President request leave of absence,
he shall, on doing so, indicate the
person who shall act in his place,
and if the leave is granted, it shall
not take effect until the President
adinterim shall have made his pro-
testation; but the President shall
have the power of using or not
using the leave, or of shortening
its time. The President adinterim
shall only fill the office as long as
the absence lasts.
The request for a leave of ab-
sence shall be addressed to the
Chamber of Deputies, which shall
immediately refer it to the proper
committee, summoning at the same
time the Senate to a joint session
of Congress to be held on the fol-
lowing day, and the report shall
be submitted to the joint session.
The recommendation to be made
in this report, if favorable to the
petition, shall be drawn in the
form of a decree of one sole ar-
ticle, to be voted upon as a whole,
granting the leave and the ap-
proval of the suggested President
ad interim.
IX. If on the day appointed
by the Constitution the President
elected by the people should not
enter upon the performance of his
duties, Congress shall at once ap-
point a President ad interim. If
the cause of the vacancy is tempo-
rary, the President ad interim
shall cease to perform the duties
of President when said cause is
removed and the President-elect
appears for the purpose of serving
his office. But if the cause is one
of those which create an absolute
vacancy, preventing the President-
elect from discharging the duties
of his office during the term of four
years, Congress, after appointing
a President ad interim, shall, with-

out delay, order a special election
to be held. The President ad in-
terim shall cease to fill the office as
soon as the new President makes
his protestation. The new Presi-
dent shall serve until the expira-
tion of the constitutional term.
If the vacancy happens because
the election was not made or pub-
lished on December first, a Presi-
dent ad interim shall also be
appointed, who shall fill the Presi-
dency until the aforesaid requi-
sites are complied with and the
President-elect shall have entered
his promise.
X. The vacancies of the position
of substitute President and Presi-
dent ad interim shall be filled in the
manner prescribed, except as to
the President ad interim, in case
that the Constitutional President,
temporarily absent, should return
to the exercise of his functions.
ART. 80. If the vacancy of the
Presidency should be absolute, the
substitute President appointed by
Congress shall serve until the end
of the constitutional period.
ART. 82. No one shall be substi-
tute President or President ad
interim, who has not the qualifica-
tions required in art. 77.

"ART. 83. The President, before
entering upon the discharge of the
duties of his office, shall make the
following promise in the presence
of the Congress:
"I do solemnly promise to per-
form faithfully and conscientiously
the duties of President of the
United Mexican States; to observe
and cause others to observe, with-
out any reservation whatever, the
Constitution of eighteen hundred
and fifty-seven, with all the amend-
ments thereto, the laws of reform,
and all other laws emanating there-
from, having always in view the
welfare and prosperity of the
Union."
The member of the cabinet in
whom the executive power may be
temporarily vested is excepted
from this requisite.

The general Congress of the
United Mexican States, in con-
formity with the provisions of
article 127 of the Federal Consti-
tution, and after approval by all
the legislatures of the States, here-
by declares articles 111 and 124
of said Constitution amended as
follows:

First. Section III of Article 111
of the Federal Constitution is
hereby amended in the following
terms:

The States shall have no
power-

III. To coin money, issue paper
money, stamps, or stamped paper.

IV. To levy a tax on persons or
property passing through their
territory.
V. To prohibit or tax, directly
or indirectly, the entrance into
their territory or the exit there-
from, of any merchandise, foreign
or domestic.
VI. To burden the circulation
or consumption of domestic or for-
eign merchandise with taxes or
duties to be collected by local cus-
tom-houses, or subject to inspec-
tion the said merchandise or re-
quire it to be accompanied by
special documents.
VII. To enact or maintain in
force laws or fiscal regulations
discriminating by means of taxa-
tion or otherwise, between mer-
chandise, domestic or foreign, on
account of its origin, whether
because of similarity with the
local productions or with similar
ones of different origin.

Second. Article 124 of the Fed-
eral Constitution is hereby amend-
ed as follows:
ART. 124. The Federation has
the exclusive power to levy duties
on merchandise imported, ex-
ported, or passing in transit
through the national territory, as
well as to regulate at all times, and
even forbid, for the sake of public
safety or for police reasons, the
circulation in the interior of the
Republic of all kinds of goods,
regardless of their origin; but the
Federation shall have no power
to establish or enact in the Federal
District and Territories the taxes
and laws referred to in clauses VI
and VII of Article 111.